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Atomic
Atomic
Definition: Picture:
Negatively charged subatomic particle
found outside the nucleus
Electrons Varies
Sentence: Varies
Definition: Picture:
Positively charged subatomic particle
found inside the nucleus
Proton
Sentence: Varies Varies
Definition: Picture:
The central region of the atom, containing
the protons and neutrons, and making up
most of the atoms mass Nucleus
Sentence: Varies Varies
Definition: Picture:
A subatomic particle with neutral charge
found inside the nucleus
Neutron
Sentence: Varies Varies
Name: Teacher Answer Key Atomic Theory
Discovering The Structure of The Atom
Station 2 – Mini Lab: Evidence for Atoms (Textbook Resource: Holt Science Spectrum)
Task: Complete the following experiment and answer the questions that follow.
Materials: Balance, pennies, marbles, 2 cups (labeled “1” and “2”).
Each cup contains pennies & marbles in a predetermined amount. The pennies & marbles from each cup
should be weighed separately, do not combine the pennies & marbles from Cup 1 with the pennies &
marbles from Cup 2.
Step 1: Use a balance to find the total mass of the pennies in Cup 1. Mass of pennies (Cup 1) = _varies_
Use a balance to find the total mass of the marbles in Cup 1. Mass of marbles (Cup 1) =__varies_
Step 2: Use a balance to find the total mass of the pennies in Cup 2. Mass of pennies (Cup 2) = _varies__
Use a balance to find the total mass of the marbles in Cup 2. Mass of marbles (Cup 2) =__varies_
1. Compare the composition of the “compounds” in the 2 cups in terms of the proportions of
marbles and pennies by mass. Do the cups contain the same “compound”? Explain. _Because_
the ratio of pennies & marbles is different in each cup, they are not the same compound.
2. Based on your evidence, do you think that different substances could be made up of the same
elements, just different amounts? Explain. Yes. We have a limited number of elements, but
those elements are arranged differently (different proportions bond with different elements) to
give us all mater that we can observe. Two different items could be made up of hydrogen and
oxygen simply by having different hydrogen-oxygen ratios.
Station 3 – Timeline Research (Textbook Resource: Holt Science Spectrum - pgs 113-129)
Task: Research to find the following information.
When did Democritus develop his atomic theory? __400 BC____
What did Democritus suggest? He said that all matter is made up of indivisible units called atoms
1913 Niels
1897 J.J. Thomson Using
Bohr said that
400 BC the cathode ray tube
electrons can
Democritus said discovered that atoms
be found in
that all matter is contained negatively
specific energy
made up of tiny charged particles called
levels orbiting
indivisible units electrons – developed
the nucleus
called “atomos” his plum pudding model
Much later, in the early 1800s, British scientist John Dalton made a convincing argument, based on
experimental evidence that supported the existence of atoms. Atoms are much too small to see, but
Dalton found evidence for them in things he could observe, such as reactions between compounds.
Because of the work of Dalton and others, the atomic theory soon became widely accepted by scientists.
The first image created by an STM showed a layer of gold atoms. Since then, the atoms of many
different substances have been observed with STMs, including silver, nickel, platinum, and silicon. At
this time, STMs are used primarily for imaging atoms. STMs have also been used to move single atoms
from one location to another, and other potential applications are being researched.
EXERCISES – Discuss the answers to the following questions then, on your own, write your response.
1. What is the most important difference between the Greek theory of atoms and Dalton’s atomic
theory?
Dalton was able to provide evidence.
2.What is the significance of the invention of the STM?
It will allow us to make even more observations of the atom and potentially provide new evidence for
the continued evolution of our knowledge of the atom
Explain where you placed your subatomic particles and why you placed them in that location. Protons
and neutrons were placed inside the bowl since the bowl represented the nucleus. Electrons were
placed around the outside of the bowl since they are found in electron clouds outside the nucleus. _
How did you select the amount of protons, neutrons, and electrons that you chose to use?
Using the periodic table provided, the number of protons was based on the atomic number, the number
of neutrons was found by taking the atomic mass minus the atomic number and the number of
electrons equals the number of protons since the atom is neutral.
Name: Teacher Answer Key Atomic Theory
Discovering The Structure of The Atom
Stations 8 – Lab Simulator: Build an Atom (Online Resource: phet.colorado.edu)
Task: Complete the lab simulator to answer the following questions.
1. Google Phet Build an Atom
2. Click on the first link.
3. Click on the RUN NOW button
4. Open the boxes called Symbol, Mass Number, and Net Charge.
5. Experiment by putting some protons into the nucleus of the atom (on the X).
7. Experiment by putting some electrons into the nucleus of the atom (on the X).