Student Exploration: Element Builder

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. What are some of the different substances that make up a pizza?

2. What substances make up water?

3. What substances make up an iron pot?

Elements are pure substances that are made up of one kind of atom. Pizza is not an element
because it is a mixture of many substances. Water is a pure substance, but it contains two kinds
of atom: oxygen and hydrogen. Iron is an element because it is composed of one kind of atom.

Gizmo Warm-Up
Atoms are tiny particles of matter that are made up
of three particles: protons, neutrons, and
electrons. The Element Builder Gizmo™ shows an
atom with a single proton. The proton is located in
the center of the atom, called the nucleus.
1. Use the arrow buttons ( ) to add protons,
neutrons, and electrons to the atom.
Press Play ( ).
A. Which particles are located in the nucleus?

B. Which particles orbit around the nucleus?

Question: What are the properties of protons, neutrons, and electrons?

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1. Observe: Turn on Show element symbol and Element

2. Investigate: Watch how the numbers change as you add or

A. Which number is equal to the number of protons in the atom?

B. How can you calculate the number of neutrons (N) in an atom?

C. Which particle (proton, neutron, or electron) has a positive charge?

Negative Charge? No Charge at all?

3. Analyze: An isotope is an alternative form of an element. Each isotope of an element has the
same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons. The isotope is represented by the
atomic symbol and mass number, such as He-4. Some isotopes are stable, while others are
radioactive, which means the atoms decay over time and emit radiation.

A. What are the stable isotopes of carbon?

B. What are the stable isotopes of nitrogen?

C. List two radioactive isotopes of oxygen:

4. Practice: Use the Gizmo to answer the following questions.

A. How many electrons are in a neutral atom of lithium? A.

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B. How many neutrons are in an atom of Mg-25? B.

C. What is the mass number of an atom with 5 protons and 7 C.

D. When at atom is charged, it is called an ion. How many D.

E. How many electrons are in Mg2+? E.

Question: How are electrons arranged around the nucleus of an atom?

1. Observe: Add electrons to the atom until you have used all the available electrons. How are
the electrons arranged?

2. Analyze: Electrons are arranged in orbits called energy levels. The Gizmo shows all of the
first two energy levels but only part of the third energy level.

A. How many electrons can fill the first energy level? A.

B. How many electrons can fit in the second energy level? B.

C. How many electrons fit in the part of the third energy level C.
shown?

3. Observe: Click Reset ( ). The electrons in the outermost orbit, called valence electrons,
help to create chemical bonds. Create a lithium atom (3 protons, 4 neutrons, 3 electrons).

How many valence electrons are in a neutral lithium atom?

4. Diagram: Turn on Show electron dot diagram. The valence electrons of an atom areshown
in an electron dot diagram. Each dot represents a valence electron.

Draw the electron dot diagram for neutral lithium (click the illustration below and click Edit - use
Google Drawings to create your illustration):

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Draw the electron dot

5. Practice: Turn off Show electron dot diagram. Use the Gizmo to create a neutral atom of
each of the following elements. Draw an electron dot diagram for each. When you are finished,
turn on Show electron dot diagram and check your answers.

H He Li Be B C N

O F Ne Na Mg Al Si

6. Extend your thinking: Many chemical properties are determined by the number of valence
electrons. Elements with the same number of valence electrons will have similar properties

Which element has similar properties to lithium?

Beryllium?

Explain:

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Question: The 117 or so known elements are arranged in the periodic table. Why does
the periodic table have the shape it has?

1. Form a hypothesis: Look at the first three rows of the periodic table below.

Why do you think the elements are arranged the way that they are?

2. Draw diagrams: Create an electron dot diagram for each of the elements below. Use the
Gizmo to help you do this. To check your work, turn on Show electron dot diagram.

H He

Li Be B C N O F Ne

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

3. Analyze: What do the elements in each column of the periodic table have in common?

4. Draw conclusions: How is the periodic table organized?

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