Name ___________________________ Date __________________ Period_________
Atomic Dating Game
Introduction
Atoms are lonely hearts that are constantly in search of partners to bring stability to their lives (at least
for our game they are). Atoms must combine with atoms of other elements to become stable. When an
atom chemically combines with another element, both atoms usually attain a stable outer shell
consisting of 8 electrons.
In this lab, you will use your expertise in drawing dot diagrams and identifying valence electrons.
Valence refers to the combining capacity of an element. In the formation of a chemical compound,
valence electrons are either transferred from the outer shell of another atom (ionic bonding) or shared
among the outer shells of the combining atoms (covalent bonding). This activity focuses on ionic
bonding only.
Objective:
To determine why atoms of different elements bond with each other.
Materials
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periodic table for reference
Procedure
1. Use the periodic table to complete the dating profiles for each of the elements
2. Determine which bachelor is a perfect match for each of the bachelorettes
3. Write the name of the compound formed as well as the formula
Data Table
1st Bachelorette!!!! Ms. Oxygen
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is she stable? ________
Dot Diagram of Ms. Oxygen
Why? ___________________________________
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Here are 3 “eligible” Bachelors!!! Ms. Oxygen must choose one….who will it
be???
Bachelor #1
Mr. Carbon
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is he a match? ________
Bachelor #2
Dot Diagram of Mr. Carbon
Why? ___________________________________
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Mr. Sodium
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is he a match? ________
Bachelor #3
Dot Diagram of Mr. Sodium
Why? ___________________________________
____________________________________
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Mr. Magnesium
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is he a match? ________
Dot Diagram of Mr. Magnesium
Why? ___________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Write the NAME of the compound and its FORMULA
_________________________________________________________________
Now let’s meet our 2nd Bachelorette!!!! Ms. Potassium
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is she stable? ________
Dot Diagram of Ms. Potassium
Why? ___________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Here are 3 “eligible” Bachelors!!! Ms. Potassium must choose one….who
will it be???
Bachelor #1
Mr. Silicon
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is he a match? ________
Bachelor #2
Dot Diagram of Mr. Silicon
Why? ___________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Mr. Fluoride
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is he a match? ________
Dot Diagram of Mr. Fluoride
Why? ___________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Bachelor #3
Mr. Neon
Symbol ____________
# Protons ____________
# Electrons ____________
# Neutrons ____________
Is he a match? ________
Dot Diagram of Mr. Neon
Why? ___________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Write the NAME of the compound and its FORMULA
______________________________________________________________
Analysis
1. One of the bachelors in the data was kicked off the show for being married. Who was he
and how do you know he was married?
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2. Find a perfect match for the following atoms:
a. Mr. Chlorine _________________________________________
b. Mr. Potassium _______________________________________
c. Ms. Xenon __________________________________________
d. Ms. Beryllium ________________________________________
3. What is an ion? Why do you think that these types of bonds are called ionic bonds?
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4. When atoms form ionic bonds, which types of elements give their electrons away, and
which ones take them (metals/nonmetals/metalloids)?
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5. Give the chemical formulas of the following ionic compounds:
a. Potassium Sulfide ___________________________
b. Magnesium Chloride _________________________
c. Ammonium Carbonate _______________________
d. Aluminum Phosphate ________________________
Conclusion
The conclusion section needs to have four sentences:
1st sentence: Repeat the objective
2nd sentence: Describe what you did specifically in the lab to achieve the objective.
3rd sentence: Share what you learned.
4th sentence: This is a general summary of the lab. It ties into the first sentence of the
purpose.
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