Download Atoms and Integers Classwork

Name ______________________________________________ Date ______________ Period ______
Exploring Integers through Atoms
Do Now: What is the periodic table? List 3 elements that you recognize from everyday life. Where do
you recognize them from?
What are atoms?
Atoms are the building blocks of matter. Everything in the universe, except energy, is made up of
matter, which means everything in the universe is made up of atoms.
An atom itself is made up of three tiny kinds of particles called subatomic particles: protons, neutrons,
and electrons. The protons and the neutrons make up the center of the atom called the nucleus and the
electrons fly around above the nucleus in a small cloud.
Each electron carries a negative charge of (-1) and each proton carries a positive charge of (+1).
Neutrons do not carry a charge. An atom itself will have an overall charge. In a normal atom the
number of protons and the number of electrons are equal. Below is a diagram of a carbon atom.
1) What is the overall charge of this atom? Explain how you came to your answer.
The information on the periodic table identifies the atomic structure of each element.

To find the number of protons, look at the atomic number:
Example for carbon:
Atomic number: 6
Number of protons: 6

The atomic mass is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons. To find the number of
neutrons, subtract the atomic number from the atomic mass:
Example for carbon:
Atomic mass: 12 (rounded) Number of neutrons: 12 – 6 = 6

To find the number of electrons, look at the atomic number:
Example for carbon:
Atomic number: 6
Number of electrons: 6
Atoms can never lose or gain protons and neutrons. HOWEVER, an atom may lose or gain
electrons. Losing or gaining electrons will change the overall charge of an atom.
2) What will happen to the overall charge of an atom if: it loses an electron? Gains an electron?
3) Find the charge of the carbon atom below. Use the table on the side to represent the overall
charge.
Protons
Electrons
Write the letter “p” for
Write the letter “e” for
every proton.
every electron
4) Write an equation that represents the overall charge of this carbon atom.
Name: _____________________________________
Exploring Integers through Science: Report Sheet
Date: _________________
Station # 1:
Element Name: __________________________
Protons
Electrons
Protons
Electrons
Protons
Electrons
# of Protons: ____________________________
# of Neutrons: ___________________________
# of Electrons: ___________________________
Atomic Mass: ___________________________
Positive Charge: _________________________
Negative Charge: _________________________
Number Sentence: ________ + ________ = _______
Station # 2:
Element Name: __________________________
# of Protons: ____________________________
# of Neutrons: ___________________________
# of Electrons: ___________________________
Atomic Mass: ___________________________
Positive Charge: _________________________
Negative Charge: _________________________
Number Sentence: ________ + ________ = _______
Station # 3:
Element Name: __________________________
# of Protons: ____________________________
# of Neutrons: ___________________________
# of Electrons: ___________________________
Atomic Mass: ___________________________
Positive Charge: _________________________
Negative Charge: _________________________
Number Sentence: ________ + ________ = _______
Station # 4:
Element Name: __________________________
Protons
Electrons
Protons
Electrons
# of Protons: ____________________________
# of Neutrons: ___________________________
# of Electrons: ___________________________
Atomic Mass: ___________________________
Positive Charge: _________________________
Negative Charge: _________________________
Number Sentence: ________ + ________ = _______
Station # 5:
Element Name: __________________________
# of Protons: ____________________________
# of Neutrons: ___________________________
# of Electrons: ___________________________
Atomic Mass: ___________________________
Positive Charge: _________________________
Negative Charge: _________________________
Number Sentence: ________ + ________ = _______