ATOMIC STRUCTURE
and
THE PARTICLE NATURE OF MATTER
INSTRUCTIONS: The metal pizza pan at your desk is your "atom". The magnets should be
used to represent protons, neutrons and electrons. Manipulate these particles as necessary
to answer the questions below.
1.
2.
Choose different magnet colors to represent the particles of your atom. Make a key
utilizing the chart below. Use your textbook if necessary.
PARTICLE
SYMBOL
ELECTRON
e-
PROTON
p+
NEUTRON
n0
RELATIVE
MASS
RELATIVE
CHARGE
MAGNET
COLOR
Place 6 protons in the center of your atom.
What is the identity (name) of this atom?
_________________________________________
3.
Add the correct number of electrons to make this an electrically neutral atom.
4.
Draw a picture below of your pan, "atom", showing the location of your magnets and
labeling each magnet using the symbol of each particle.
5.
What is the mass of your atom at this time? __________________________________
6.
The actual mass is of the atom is 12 amu.
a. How many neutrons must you add to your atom?_____________________
b. Where do they belong? ________________________________________
Add the neutrons to the pan.
7.
Remove one electron from your atom.
a. What is the new mass of the atom? _______________________________
b. What is the new charge of the atom? ______________________________
8.
Remove a neutron from the atom.
a. What is the new mass of the atom? ________________________________
b. What is the new charge of the atom? _______________________________
9.
Remove a proton from the atom.
a. What is the new mass of the atom? _________________________________
b. What is the new charge of the atom? ________________________________
10.
Draw a picture below representing the atom from question 9.
Please, use symbols for labeling each particle.
11.
What is the identity (name) of this atom ?
______________________________________
12.
Remove one more neutron from this atom.
a. Has the identity of the atom changed? ________________________________
b. Has the charge of the atom changed? ________________________________
c. Has the mass of the atom changed? _________________________________
13.
Using you textbook, define the term ISOTOPE.
14.
Clear your pan (‘atom’) and make a new isotope of this atom. Draw a picture of this
atom below.
Please, use symbols for labeling each particle.
15.
Using your textbook, explain how isotopes are named. Then, name the isotope made
in # 14.
16.
Using the atomic mass from the periodic table, estimate the most commonly occurring
isotope of this atom. Draw a picture of this atom below. Then name it.
Please, use symbols for labeling each particle.
17.
Draw a picture of the most abundant isotope of Fluorine below. Then name it.
Please, use symbols for labeling each particle.
18.
Use your magnets to represent the most abundant isotope of Nitrogen. Draw a picture
of this atom below. Then name it.
Please, use symbols for labeling each particle.
19.
Use the atom from question 18 to answer the following questions:
a. How many protons are in this atom? ______________________________
b. How many electrons are in this atom? _____________________________
c. How many neutrons are in this atom? _____________________________
d. What is the mass of this atom? __________________________________
e. What is the charge of this atom? _________________________________
f. What must be done to create a -3 charge on this atom?
____________________________________________________________
g. What must be done to create a +2 charge on this atom?
____________________________________________________________
h. What must be done in order to decrease the mass of Nitrogen to 12 amu?
____________________________________________________________