Javier Foglia

Build an Atom​ Remote ​Lab ​

This lab uses the ​Build an Atom​ ​ simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations at University of
Colorado Boulder, under the CC-BY 4.0 license.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/build-an-atom/latest/build-an-atom_en.html

Part 1​ ​Directions: ​Use your own words and captured images for each question.

Develop your understanding: ​ Open the ​Atom​ screen, then explore to develop your own ideas about the
atomic particles that make up atoms and ions.

Explain your understanding:

1. What parts go in the center of the atom? What is the center called?

Protons and Neutrons, and the center is called the Mass Number

2. Explore until you discover a good rule for making the center of the atom ​stable​.
a. What seems to make the center of the atom ​unstable​?

The center of the atom is unstable whenever there is 1+ proton/neutron compared to the number of the
other

b. Fill in the table to identify three examples – ​at least 1 stable and at least 1 unstable atom​ – that
shows your rules for stability work to “build an atom” of your own.

What is in your nucleus? Capture and paste Is it stable or unstable? What ​Element​ is it?
your atom

1 6 p. 6. n. 6 e. https://phet.color stable Carbon

ado.edu/sims/ht
ml/build-an-atom
/latest/build-an-a
tom_en.html?scr
eens=1

2 8 p. 6 n. 3 e. https://phet.color unstable Oxygen

ado.edu/sims/ht
ml/build-an-atom
/latest/build-an-a
tom_en.html?scr
eens=1

3 3 p. 8 n. 8 e. https://phet.color unstable Lithium

ado.edu/sims/ht
ml/build-an-atom
/latest/build-an-a

8/28/2013 Loeblein/Perkins adapted from ​https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3341

Page 1
 tom_en.html?scr
eens=1

Understanding Mass
3. Explore until you can explain some good rules about the ​mass​ of your atom or ion. Then design a way to
test your ideas and demonstrate that your rules work. Remember to include evidence of screen captures.

The ion level is based on the number of protons and electrons in the atom (ex: 9 p, 9 e = neutral atom. 6
p, 9 e = - Ion. 9 p, 6 e= + ion)

a) Create Carbon 12 vs Carbon 14 in your simulation. Which subatomic particle are you changing
to change the​ mass​ of the element, but not the identity of the element?

The neutrons

Develop your understanding: ​Explore to develop your own ideas about what makes an atom and how ​ions
are different from atoms.

Explain your understanding:

4. What are some good rules about the ​charge​ of your atom or ion (See net charge)?

the net charge is neutral whenever we got the same amount of protons and electrons

a. What is a rule for making a neutral atom which has no charge?

don't put anything

b. What is a rule for making a positive ion which has positive charge?

having more protons than electrons

c. What is a rule for making a negative ion which has negative charge?

having more electrons than protons

d. How did you use the tools in the sim that helped you decide if the atom had a positive, negative,
or 0 charge?

by counting protons and neutrons everytime

8/28/2013 Loeblein/Perkins adapted from ​https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3341

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 e. Identify three examples of ​stable​ ​atoms and ions​. Include 1 with neutral charge, 1 with a
positive charge, and 1 with a negative charge .

What is in your Capture and paste What is Is it a neutral atom, positive

atom or ion? your atom or ion the charge? ion,
(Stable only) or negative ion? explain why

https://phet.colora neutral because the protons

2 of protons: do.edu/sims/html/ and electrons are the same
1 1 of neutrons: build-an-atom/late 0 amount
2 of electrons: st/build-an-atom_e
n.html?screens=1

https://phet.color negative because there are

ado.edu/sims/htm more electrons than protons
4 of protons:
2 5 of neutrons: l/build-an-atom/l -3
atest/build-an-ato
7 of electrons:
m_en.html?scree
ns=1

https://phet.colora positive because there are

9 of protons: do.edu/sims/html/ more protons than electrons
3 10 of neutrons: build-an-atom/late +5
4 of electrons: st/build-an-atom_e
n.html?screens=1

8/28/2013 Loeblein/Perkins adapted from ​https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3341

Page 3