Name: ______________________________ W.R.

: _______________

Before we start: Pre-lab for Build an Atom

1. You build an atom that has the following components:
3 protons P
4 neutrons N
3 electrons E

Draw/ insert a picture of how you would build your atom below:

Write down which element this atom is on this periodic table below:
Element: Lithium

The mass of this atom is:

a. 3 mass units Explain how you knew to choose which answer:
b. 4 mass units 7 protons +neutrons
c. 6 mass units ____________________________________________________
d. 7 mass units
e. 11 mass units

The charge of this atom is:

a. 0, this is a neutral atom
b. -3
c. -1
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 d. +1
e. +3

2. You start with your atom: 3 protons

4 neutrons
3 electrons

You want to change your atom’s properties.

Mark YES if a change will work, and mark NO if it will not work based on what you have
learned about atoms.

A. Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon are all different elements.

If you want to change the type of element your atom is, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

B. If you want to change the charge of your atom, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

C. If you want to change the mass of your atom, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

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Name: ______________________________ W.R. : _______________

Go to the Lab: Build an Atom

Build an Atom (colorado.edu) hold “ctrl” button and click on the link to go to Phet Simulations website.

Learning Objectives:
1. Draw models that show atoms or ions.
2. Use information about the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons to
 Identify an element and its position on the periodic table
 Draw models of atoms
 Determine if the model is for a atom or an ion.
3. Predict how changing the number protons, neutrons, or electrons will change the element, the
charge, and the mass of an atom or ion.

Directions:
3. Explore the Build an Atom simulation with your partner (about 5 minutes). As you explore, talk
about what you find with your partner.

4. Using Build an Atom, talk with your partner as you play with the parts of atoms to find:

A. What parts go in the center of the atom?

_______Protons+neutrons__________________________________

B. You can call the center of the atom, the nucleus. Most atoms in our environment have a stable
nucleus.

C. Play around, and write down three examples of atoms that have a stable nucleus and include a
drawing of your nucleus.

Number of particles in Insert a screenshot/ What element

your nucleus: picture is it?
your atom
Lithium

Protons: 3
1. Neutrons:3

2. Neon
Protons: 10
Neutrons:5

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 Carbon

Protons: 6
3. Neutrons:10

D. Everything around us is made up of different elements. The air has Oxygen (O) and Nitrogen (N).
Plants and people have lots of Carbon (C). Helium (He) is in balloons. Hydrogen (H) is in water.
Play until you discover which particle (or particles) determines the name of the element you
build. What did you discover?
I discovered that the protons change the element the more or the less you add

E. Test your idea by identifying the element for the 3 cases.

Particles What What Determines Write down the symbol of the
Element? the Element? Element
Protons: 6 Carbon ☐ Proton
1. Neutrons: 6 ☐ Neutron ____C_______
Electrons: 6 ☐ Electron
Protons: 7 Nitrogen ☐ Proton
2. Neutrons: 6 ☐ Neutron ______N_____
Electrons: 6 ☐ Electron
Protons: 6 Carbon ☐ Proton
3. Neutrons: 7 ☐ Neutron ______C______
Electrons: 7 ☐ Electron

5. Play until you discover what affects the charge of your atom or ion.
What is a rule for making...
A. A atom neutral (one with 0 extra charge)?
Same number of electrons/protons
B. A +ion (positive ion, one with extra positive charge)? More protons than electrons
C. A - ion (negative ion, one with extra negative charge)? More electrons than protons
______________________________________________________________________________

6. Show a neutral atom, a positive ion, and a negative ion. (These examples should be consistent with
the rules you discovered.) All of your examples should also have a stable nucleus.
Number of Particles? Insert a screenshot/ picture What is
your atom the Charge?
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 Protons: 7
Neutral Neutrons:7 Neutral
Electrons:7

Protons:8
+ Ion Neutrons:7 Positive
Electrons:7

Protons: 7
- Ion Neutrons:7 Negative
Electrons:8

7. Play until you discover what affects the mass of your atom or ion.
Which particles are heavy and which particles are light? Protons=heaviest Electrons=lightest
What is a rule for determining the mass?
_________________________________________________________________________________

8. Using all of your rules, figure out what changes for each of these actions to an atom or ion. You can
test your ideas with the simulation. If you have new ideas, rewrite your rules.

What
Action How Does it Change?
Changes?
☐ Element From Boron to Carbon
Add a
☐ Charge Charge 0 to +1
Proton
☐ Mass 10 to 11

What
Action How Does it Change?
Changes?
☐ Element Nothing happens
Remove a
☐ Charge Nothing happens
Neutron
☐ Mass From 10 to 1

Action What How Does it Change?

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 Changes?
☐ Element Nothing happens
Remove an
☐ Charge From 0 to +1
Electron
☐ Mass Nothing happens

What
Action How Does it Change?
Changes?
☐ Element Nothing happens
Add a
☐ Charge From 0 to -1
Electron
☐ Mass Nothing happens

9. Challenges!
Design a positive ion with a charge of +2:

Particles Properties
Protons: 5 Element: Boron
Neutrons:5 Mass: 10
Electrons:3 Charge: +2
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Stable Nucleus: ☐ Yes ☐ No
 Design a neutral, atom with a mass of 8:

Particles Properties
Protons: 4 Element: Beryllium
Neutrons:4 Mass: 8
Electrons:0 Charge:+4
Stable Nucleus: ☐ Yes ☐ No

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 Name: ______________________________ W.R. : _______________

Close the Phet lab and try and answer the following:
Post-lab for Build an Atom
10. You build an atom that has the following components:
3 protons P
4 neutrons N
3 electrons E

Draw a picture of how you would build your atom below:

Write which element this atom is on this periodic table below:

Element: _________________

The mass of this atom is:

f. 3 mass units Explain what ideas you used to choose an answer:
g. 4 mass units 4 neutrons + 3 Protons
h. 6 mass units
i. 7 mass units
j. 11 mass units

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 The charge of this atom is:
f. 0, this is a neutral atom
g. -3
h. -1
i. +1
j. +3

11. You start with your atom: 3 protons

4 neutrons
3 electrons

You want to change your atom’s properties.

Mark YES if a change will work, and mark NO if it will not work.

A. Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon are all different elements.

If you want to change the type of element your atom is, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

Explain the ideas you used to choose your answer:

Only protons can change the element
B. If you want to change the charge of your atom, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

Explain the ideas you used to choose your answer:

Protons have an positive charge and electrons have a negative charge
C. If you want to change the mass of your atom by 1 or more mass units, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

Explain the ideas you used to choose your answer:

Protons and neutrons are the heaviest

D. If you add 1 proton and 1 neutron to your atom …

Will the element change? Yes If so, circle the new element?

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 Will the mass change? Yes If so, what is the new mass of the atom? ________
Will the charge change? Yes If so, what is the new charge of the atom?________

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