Download Smashed Atoms Lab

Name _______________________________ Block _______________
“SMASHED ATOMS”
Pre-activity Questions:
1. Which subatomic particle of the atom determines the identity of an element?
2. Which subatomic particle can change an atom into an ion?
3. Which subatomic particle adds weight and causes isotopes to occur?
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__________
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Directions:
1. Fill in the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons in Table I after examining the
“smashed atom” in each baggie.
2. After counting the subatomic particles, name the element, draw its symbol, and determine
its charge (0, +1, +2, +3, -1, -2, or -3). Determine if the element is an ion.
3. Fill in the atomic number and the mass number for each “smashed atom” in the last two
columns.
4. Draw a Bohr planetary model of the contents of each baggie in Table II.
Key:
blue = protons
red = electrons
green = neutrons
Table I:
Bag # # protons
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
# electrons
# neutrons
element name
symbol
charge ion (yes or no)
Atomic #
Mass #
Table II:
Baggie #1: element name________________
Baggie #6: element name_______________
Baggie #2: element name_______________
Baggie #7: element name_______________
Baggie #3: element name_______________
Baggie #8: element name_______________
Baggie #4: element name_______________
Baggie #9: element name_______________
Baggie #5: element name_______________
Baggie #10: element name_______________
Conclusions:
1.
What is an ion? Give an example of an ion
found in this activity using one of the baggies as an example.
2.
If an atom has more electrons than protons, will its charge be positive or negative?
3.
If you remove electrons from the atom, and now it has more protons than electrons, will
the charge of the atom be positive or negative?
4.
What are isotopes?
5.
Which bag numbers contained isotopes of each other?
6.
Which subatomic particle was used to determine the atomic number?
7.
Explain how you determined the mass number for each atom.