Relating Electrons and Probability Lab
Name________________
Electrons do not travel around the nucleus in fixed orbits. Electrons move in an area
known as the electron cloud. The electron cloud is a region in which electrons are likely
to be found. Within the electron cloud, electrons are arranged in energy levels. Energy
levels represent the most probable location in which an electron can be found. An energy
level should not be confused with a specific path. For electrons do not have a path.
Scientists can speak only of the chances, or probability, of finding electrons at various
locations. I want you to get a better understanding of probability and how it relates to
electrons.
Problem
How can the movement of electrons outside the nucleus be described?
Procedure
1.Tape all six sides of your dice
2.Mark 3 sides with one dot, mark two sides with two dots, mark the last side with three
dots
3.color a center color on your graph paper with a red dot
4.pick three different colors to represent the one dot, two dots, three dots
5.roll your dice and color your graph with the following rules:
-roll a 1, pencil in a square that is between 1-3cm from the nucleus
-roll a 2, pencil in a square that is between 3-5cm form the nucleus
-roll a 3, pencil in a square that is between 5-7cm from the nucleus
50 rolls
Analysis
1.In which range do you have the most darkened squares on your diagram?
2.Based on your data, in what energy levels an electron most likely to be
found?_________Least likely to be found?_______________
3.If each square that you penciled in represents a chance of finding an electron in a
particular location around the nucleus where would you look first for an electron?
4.Can the exact position of an electron around the nucleus be determined?
5.What can be known about electrons?