Name_____________________________ Period____________ Date________________
Build Atoms Yourself!
Why are we doing this?
In this activity, you will examine the components of an atom’s structure.
Directions:
1. Open the Le Conte website – www.lecontems.org – and go to my
webpage.
a. Click on Links and choose Chemistry from the dropdown menu and
click on the Atom Builder
2. In this exploration subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and
electrons) can be added to an atom or removed by moving the
particles in and out of the frame.
3. This interactive model will allow you to build atoms of different
elements from a collection of subatomic particles.
a. Click the "Next" button to begin using the interactive model.
After a brief introduction on how the model works, you will be
able to drag protons, neutrons, and electrons into the model to
create various atoms.
4. Use the interactive model to build model atoms for the elements. Pay
attention to the feedback so that you are building balanced (total
charge = zero) atoms. Once you have balanced the electrons and
protons add or subtract neutrons paying attention to the stability
of the nucleus.
5. Fill in the information for elements on your Atom Builder Data Chart
on the next page. If there are more than 2 of an element listed,
make isotopes of that element.
Name_____________________________ Period____________ Date________________
Atom Builder Data Chart
Element
Atomic mass
Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
Nuclear Stability
H
He
He
Li
Li
Be
Be
Be
B
B
C
C
C
C
C
N
N
N
N
O
O
O
O
F
F
Ne
Conclusion Questions
1. Which particle controls what element an atom is? Describe how you
used the model to come up with your answer.
2. What do you get when you change the number of neutrons in the
nucleus?
Name_____________________________ Period____________ Date________________
3. What controls the "weight" of an atom? Describe how you used the
model to come up with your answer.
4. What effect does varying the number of neutrons in the atom have on
its stability?