Archbishop Blanch School Science Department

KS3 – Atomic Structure particle model

Scientists believe that everything is made from very tiny particles. They use this idea,
called particle theory, to explain what happens to solids, liquids and gases when they
are heated and cooled. Many topics studied in Chemistry and Physics in Y7 to Y13 links
to atoms and particles in some way.

Big Question:
What are all substances made of?

Science Story:
Find out more about the Large Hadron Collider in CERN

CEIAG Links:
A particle physicist may have studied for an Undergraduate degree in Physics and
then specialised by studying for a Masters degree or PhD. You may be lucky
enough to work at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland and use the Large Hadron Collider.
Watch a class clips on the BBC from Brian Cox on the Hadron Collider
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/brian-cox-how-cern-helps-us-
understand-the-big-bang/zfkpy9q
You would need to take A Levels in Physics and Maths.
A university course link for a Physics degree:
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/physics/physics-particle-
cosmology-msci.aspx
Other careers that have links with having a qualification in Physics:
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-
degree/physics
 Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles
Key questions

Question Answer

1 What is everything in the universe made Tiny Particles

from?
2 What is an atom? The name given to the tiny particles that make up
all things
3 What is matter? Any physical substance
4 Name the 3 main states of matter Solid, Liquid, Gas
5 Describe the properties of a solid? Fixed shape, cannot be squashed
6 Describe the properties of a liquid? Flow and take the shape of the bottom of their
container, cannot be squashed
7 Describe the properties of a gas? Flow and completely fill their container, can be
squashed
8 Describe the particles in a solid? Regular; The particles cannot move from place to
place but can vibrate
9 Draw a particle diagram for a solid

10 What stops the particles from moving Very strong forces called bonds
apart in a solid?
11 Describe the particles in a liquid? Random; The particles can move around each
other
12 Draw a particle diagram for a liquid

13 Describe the bonds between particles in Strong enough to keep particles close, weak
a liquid? enough to let them move around each other
14 Describe the particles in a gas? Random; The particles can move quickly in all
directions
15 Draw a particle diagram for a gas

16 Describe the bonds between particles in no/very weak bonds between particles so they are
a gas? free to move in any direction
17 Can matter change from one state to Yes
another?
18 How does matter change from one state Gain or lose energy
to another?
19 Name the state change for solid to Melt
liquid?
20 Name the state change for liquid to gas? Evaporate
21 Name the state change for gas to liquid? Condense/condensation
22 Name the state change for liquid to Freeze
solid?
23 Name the changes of state that involve melt, evaporate
particles gaining energy?
24 Name the changes of state that involve Condense, freeze
particles losing energy?
25 Does the mass of a substance change if No, the particles and mass stay the same, only
it changes state? their closeness and movement change
26 What is an element? Substance containing only one type of atom
27 What is a compound? Substance containing two or more different types
of atom (atoms from 2 or more different
elements) chemically bonded together
28 What is a mixture? Substance containing two or more different types
of elements or compounds not chemically bonded
together
29 What is a chemical symbol? Letter(s) given to every element, always begin
with a capital
30 What is a chemical formula? A combination of letters and numbers to show
which types of elements and how many atoms are
present in a compound
31 How do we know how many elements Count the number of capital letters
are present in a chemical formula?
32 How do we know how many atoms are in Add up all the number (no number always = 1)
a chemical formula?

Diagnostic Test

1. What happens when you boil a kettle?

2. Is ice a solid, liquid or gas?
3. What happens to ice in a drink if you leave it?
4. What is the chemical symbol for water?
5. What happens when you put water in the freezer?
 Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles
Lesson 1: States of matter

Give Describe the Classify substances as

examples of properties of solids, liquids or
solids, liquids solids, liquids gasses and give
reasons for your
and gases and gases
answers

1. Draw a Venn Diagram (an example in on the board). Put the 6 items below in the
correct circles on your diagram.
Toast, Coca Cola, chocolate, Carbon dioxide, milk, playstation, wood, water, steam,
natural gas, ice cream.
2. What is everything in the world made from?
3. What is an atom?
4. What is matter?
5. What are the three states of matter?
6. Go around the 4 different stations. What do you notice about the properties of solids
liquid and gases? Put ticks in the correct boxes.

Property Solid Liquid Gas

Fixed shape

Cannot be compressed

Can flow

Takes the shape of the container

No fixed shape or volume

Fairly easy to compress

 Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles
Lesson 2: Particle arrangement

I can draw particle 2 I can describe how

diagrams for particles are arranged in
solids, liquids and solids, liquids and gases
gases

7. Draw how you think the particles are arranged in a solid, liquid and gas.
Attempt 1

Solid Liquid Gas

8. After your teacher’s explanation, see if you can improve your particle diagrams below.
Attempt 2

9. What stops the particles from moving apart in a solid?

10. Describe the bonds between particles in a liquid?
11. Describe the bonds between particles in a gas?
12. Describe the properties of a solid?
13. Describe the properties of a liquid?
14. Describe the properties of a gas
15. Put each statements on the board in one of the three boxes:
Solid Liquid Gas

  

  

  

  

Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles

Lesson 3: Change of state

Name the Describe how

processes solids, liquids and
involved with gases change state
changing state

16. Label each arrow in the diagram below:

17. Match the keyword to the correct description

Freezing To change state from liquid to gas

Condensing To change state from solid to gas

Evaporating To change state from solid to liquid

Sublimation To change state from liquid to solid

Melting To change state from gas to liquid

18. Can matter change from one state to another?

19. How does matter change from one state to another?
20. Name the changes of state that involve particles gaining energy.
21. Name the changes of state that involve particles losing energy.
22. Does the mass of a substance change if it changes state?
 Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles
Lesson 4: Melting and Boiling points

I know the melting I understand what I can identify melting

point and boiling point happens when and boiling points from
of water substances reach their a graph
melting and boiling
points

Melting and Boiling Points

23. Fill in the blanks:
The melting point is the temperature at which a substance changes from a to
a .

The melting point is the temperature at which a substance changes from a to

a .

Water melts at ⁰C and boils at ⁰C.

Heating curve
24. What is the melting point of this substance?
25. What is the boiling point of this substance?
26. What state is this substance at room temperature (21⁰C)

Cooling Curve
27. What is the melting point of this substance?
28. What is the boiling point of this substance?
29. What state is this substance at room temperature (21⁰C)
 Water heating curve

• This is a graph showing what would happen if you took a piece of ice and heated it
over time. When the temperature is measured it goes up and up most of the time
but at certain points it does not change.
• By answering these questions we will think about what is happening at those points
and what they can tell us.

30. At what temperature does water

a) Freeze? b) Boil?
31. Between which temperatures on the graph is the water
a) Solid? b) Liquid? c) Gas?
32. What is happening to the substance when the graph goes flat at
a) 0°C? b) 100°C?
33. Does the mass of a substance change if it changes state?
 Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles
Lesson 5: Elements, compounds and mixtures

1 I can identify elements, 2: I can describe what

compounds and mixtures elements compounds
from particle diagrams and mixtures are

34. What is an element?

35. My definition of a compound….

Perfect definition of a compound…

36. Fill in the blanks below:

Mixtures:
In a m_______ two or more substances (e________ or compounds) are put together but
there is NO c_________ bonds. Mixtures can usually be separated easily.

37. Draw a particle diagram of an element, compound and mixture below:

Element Compound Mixture

Making a compound – Teacher demonstration
38. Complete the word equation:
Iron + Sulphur _____________________

39. How did you know a chemical reaction had taken place?
40. How did you know a compound had formed?
41. What is a mixture?

42. In which state are the particles in a regular arrangement?

43. In which state do the particles have the most kinetic energy?

44. Name the state change for solid to liquid

45. Name the state change for liquid to gas

46. Name the state change for gas to liquid

47. Name the state change for liquid to solid?

Topic: Atomic Structure and Bonding - Particles

Lesson 6: Chemical Formula

1 I can find 2. I understand 3: I can identify

the number of
the chemical what a
different elements
symbols for chemical and atoms in a
elements formula is chemical formula

48. Where can you find the chemical symbols for elements?
49. Give the chemical symbol for the following elements:
a) Gold b) Copper c)Hydrogen d)Oxygen e) Potassium f) Sodium.
50. NaOH Golden Rules
a) How many element in the compound?
1. Each capital letter is a new element
b) How many atoms? 2. The little number after the element tells
us how many atoms of that element
c) How many atoms of Na? 3. No number means just one atom
d) How many atoms of O? 4. To work out the number of elements –
count the capital letters
e) How many atoms of H? 5. To work out the total number of atoms –
count the numbers
51. NH3 52. H3PO4
a) How many element in the compound? a) How many element in the compound?
b) How many atoms? b) How many atoms?
c) How many atoms of N? c) How many atoms of H?
d) How many atoms of H? d) How many atoms of P?
e) How many atoms of O?

53 The formula of methane is CH4. The symbols for the two elements in methane are
C and H. Give the names of these two elements.

a) Element C b) Element H

54. Name the changes of state that involve particles gaining energy

55. What is an element?

56. What is a compound?

57. What is a mixture?

58. What is a chemical symbol?

59. What is a chemical formula?

60. How do we know how many elements are present in a chemical formula?

61. How do we know how many atoms are in a chemical formula?

Smashing particles

Buried beneath the French-Swiss border, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the
largest machine in existence.

The scientists who work with it are conducting some of the most complex and
important physics experiments ever attempted.

In 2013, it was switched off for two years of renovation, but in 2015, the power
surged back to its vast apparatus. It now boasts nearly twice the power and many
improvements to its particle detectors.

During the last run of experiments, physicists wanted to detect the Higgs boson.
When they found it, a Nobel Prize followed. This time, it’s much less certain what
will be discovered. They hope the revamped LHC will reveal new – and unexpected
– windows into the workings of the Universe.

The LHC's next set of experiments are trying to test some of the big theories in
particle physics. It's hoped the data collected will help gather support for theories
like supersymmetry while others, like the unified theory of physics, are much less
likely to be definitively proven by the experiments planned for the next three
years.

Upgrading the LHC

The LHC is a 27km (17 mile) ring-shaped tunnel. Tiny particles accelerate
around it until they smash into each other.

These collisions produce bursts of new particles, which exist for only fractions of a
second. These fragments are carefully detected and then studied.

Between 2013 and 2015, the LHC was improved with stronger electrical
connections, radiation-resistant electronics, serviced magnets and a more secure
vacuum. These upgrades reduces the likelihood of faults that create delays and
mean it can continue to operate reliably and safely.

E=mc2

As a result of the big upgrade, the LHC now accelerates particles to nearly twice
the previous kinetic energy. This is important because of Einstein’s famous
equation, E=mc2. The E stands for energy, the m for mass, and the c is the speed
of light. More energy in the collisions creates new, heavier particles.

Once the dust has settled, the world’s largest grid of supercomputers will crunch
the results of the LHC’s experiments. It took months for the discovery of Higgs
boson to be analysed and verified. Any newly discovered particles will face
similarly rigorous checks before their discovery can be published.
Bigger collisions and more of them

Physicists keep looking for new particles because our understanding of the
Universe is incomplete. Current theories don't match what we observe in the
Universe.

Heavy particles

There are two ways to find particles. One way is to increase the energy of the
protons collided at the LHC. The increased energy allows for heavier particles to
be produced.

Rare particles

The second way is to increase the number of collisions so more data is captured.
Sifting through this information allows for the faintest traces of any rare new
particles to be spotted. The LHC is equipped to try both approaches, starting with
increased energy.

However, scientists don't know where the answer might lie, or what sort of new
particles could lead to these theoretical explanations. Instead they’re examining
every aspect of the building blocks of the Universe - hoping they can find the
answer.

Comprehension and Reflection Questions

1. What does LHC stand for?

2. Where is the LHC found?
3. Why did scientists turn off the LHC in 2013?
4. How long is the LHC.
5. What prize was given to scientists working on the LHC.