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Atomic Structure Basics

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Atomic Structure Basics

Diego, Wyatt, and Harper are sorting materials at a recycling drive. Each material is made of atoms. Use the clues and what you know about atoms to solve the challenges. Remember: models show important ideas, but they are not exact pictures of atoms.

Decode the model

Use what you know about the parts of an atom to solve the clues.

1.Harper finds a label that says “negative charge.” Which subatomic particle belongs on it?

Proton
Neutron
Electron
Nucleus

2.The recycling team is building an atom model. Which particles belong in its central nucleus?

Protons and neutrons
Electrons and protons
Electrons and neutrons
Electrons only

3.Match each subatomic particle to its charge.

Proton
Neutron
Electron

No charge (neutral)
Negative
Positive

4.An atom in a discarded aluminum can has 13 protons. What does the number 13 tell the team about this atom?

Sort the atom clues

Atoms are tiny, but their particle counts give scientists useful information.

5.Wyatt records an atom with 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons. Identify its element and explain which particle count helped you decide.

6.Complete the idea: In a neutral atom, the number of positively charged protons is the number of negatively charged electrons.

7.True or false? Changing the number of neutrons always changes an atom into a different element. Explain your choice.

8.A neutral atom has 8 protons. How many electrons does it have? Explain how you know.

Build and explain

Use particle counts to make a model, then think about how scientists use models.

9.Draw a simple model of a neutral atom with 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons. Label the nucleus, each particle, and each particle’s charge. What element is it?

10.Ordinary microscopes cannot show individual atoms clearly. Give one reason scientists still use atom models and one limitation of a model.

11.Diego says, “An atom with 6 protons and 7 neutrons must be nitrogen because it has 13 particles in its nucleus.” Is he correct? Explain using the rule that identifies an element.