Name:______________________________
“APE MAN Lab “
Building atoms in petri dishes
You are about to put your knowledge of Bohr models to good use building atoms! Each lab station has 12 petri
dishes in which you will “build” atoms. You will build each of the atoms listed below, and fill in the data table.
Label your atoms with the labels you have been given. Be sure each atom has the proper number of protons,
neutrons, and electrons. Use the periodic table to complete this lab.
Directions: in each petri dish, place the proper number of protons, neutrons and electrons. Electrons should
be placed around the edges of the petri dishes, while protons and neutrons should be in the center.
Color key:
Yellow beads: electrons
Blue beads: protons
Green beads: neutrons
Atom identity
Atomic
number
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Remember: A = P = E
Mass number
# protons
M–A=N
# electrons # neutrons
1. How did you find the number of protons and electrons?
2. How did you find the number of neutrons?
3. In which atoms did the number of neutrons differ from the number of protons?
4. If you were asked to design a lab similar to this one where you must “build” atoms with
your hands, but without the use of beads or petri dishes, what would you come up
with? Every student’s answer should be different, do not ask lab partners for help.
Name:______________________________
5. Why did you need to put the electrons (yellow beads) around the edge of the petri dish?
6. What are some limitations of using these petri dish models of atoms? List 2 things that
are inaccurate about using petri dish models as atoms. Example: protons, neutrons, and
electrons don’t really have colors, so the bead colors are sort-of inaccurate.
7. In the circles below, count, draw, and color in the appropriate number of protons (blue
beads,) neutrons (green beads,) and electrons (yellow beads.) Yes, you will draw beads
in these circles and color them as they are shown in the petri dishes you made.
Carbon “atom” petri dish
Boron “atom” petri dish
8. These petri dishes represent Bohr models of these atoms, where the electrons are in
“shells” around the nucleus. If we wanted to use petri dish models to demonstrate
Dalton’s model of the atom, what would we need to do differently?