Name: _____________________________________ Term: _______________ Date :_______________________

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 a picture of how you would build your atom below:

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

The mass of this atom is:

a. 3 mass units Explain what ideas you used to choose an answer:
b. 4 mass units ____________________________________________________
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
d. +1
e. +3

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 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.

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: ______________________________ Period: _______________

Build an Atom
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? _________________________________________

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 Draw What element

your nucleus: your nucleus is it?

Protons: __
1. Neutrons:__

Protons: __
2. Neutrons:__

Protons: __
3. Neutrons:__

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 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?
___________________________________________________________________________

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

Particles What What Determines Circle the Element
Element? the Element?
Protons: 6 ☐ Proton
1. Neutrons: 6 ☐ Neutron
Electrons: 6 ☐ Electron
Protons: 7 ☐ Proton
2. Neutrons: 6 ☐ Neutron
Electrons: 6 ☐ Electron
Protons: 6 ☐ Proton
3. Neutrons: 7 ☐ Neutron
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)?
______________________________________________________________________________
B. A +ion (positive ion, one with extra positive charge)?
______________________________________________________________________________
C. A - ion (negative ion, one with extra negative charge)?
______________________________________________________________________________

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? Draw Your What is
Atom or Ion the Charge?

Protons: __
Neutral Neutrons:__
Electrons:__

Protons: __
+ Ion Neutrons:__
Electrons:__

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 Protons: __
- Ion Neutrons:__
Electrons:__

7. Play until you discover what affects the mass of your atom or ion.
Which particles are heavy and which particles are light?
_________________________________________________________________________________
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
Add a
Proton ☐ Charge
☐ Mass

What
Action How Does it Change?
Changes?
☐ Element
Remove a
Neutron ☐ Charge
☐ Mass

What
Action How Does it Change?
Changes?
☐ Element
Remove an
Electron ☐ Charge
☐ Mass

What
Action How Does it Change?
Changes?
☐ Element
Add a
Electron ☐ Charge
☐ Mass

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

Particles Properties
Protons: __ Element:__
Neutrons:__ Mass:__
Electrons:__ Charge:__
Stable Nucleus: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Design a neutral, atom with a mass of 8:

Particles Properties
Protons: __ Element:__
Neutrons:__ Mass:__
Electrons:__ Charge:__
Stable Nucleus: ☐ Yes ☐ No

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 Name: ______________________________ Period: _______________

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:

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

The mass of this atom is:

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

The charge of this atom is:

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

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 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:

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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:

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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:

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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

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

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

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