Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary:
atom: basic unit of a chemical element
atomic number: number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an
element and ...
Student Exploration: Element Builder
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary:
atom: basic unit of a chemical element
atomic number: number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an
element and its place in the periodic table
electron: stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atom
electron dot diagram: diagrams in which the valence electrons of an atom are shown as dots distributed
around the element's symbol
element: any substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes
energy level: the fixed amount of energy that a system described by quantum mechanics, such as a molecule,
atom, electron, or nucleus, can have
ion: an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
isotope: each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different
numbers of neutrons
mass number: the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom.
neutron: a subatomic particle of about the same mass as a proton but without an electric charge, present in all
atomic nuclei
nucleus: the central and most important part of an object, movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity
and growth
periodic table: a table of the chemical elements arranged in order of atomic number, usually in rows, so that
elements with similar atomic structure appear in vertical columns
proton: a stable subatomic particle occurring in all atomic nuclei, with a positive electric charge equal in
magnitude to that of an electron, but of opposite sign.
radioactive: emitting or relating to the emission of ionizing radiation or particles
valence electrons: a single electron or one of two or more electrons in the outer shell of an atom that is
responsible for the chemical properties of the atom
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What are some of the different substances cheese, dough, sauce, pepperoni, toppings
that make up a pizza?
2. What substances make up water? 2 hydrogen and 1oxygen = molecule
3. What substances make up an iron pot? iron- element
Elements are pure substances that are made up of one kind of atom. Pizza is not an element because it is a
mixture of many substances. Water is a pure substance, but it contains two kinds of atom: oxygen and
hydrogen. Iron is an element because it is composed of one kind of atom.
, Gizmo Warm-up
Atoms are tiny particles of matter that are made up of three particles:
protons, neutrons, and electrons. The Element Builder Gizmo shows
an atom with a single proton. The proton is located in the center of the
atom, called the nucleus.
1. Use the arrow buttons ( ) to add protons, neutrons, and electrons
to the atom. Press Play ( ).
A. Which particles are located protons and neutrons
in the nucleus?
B. Which particles orbit around electrons
the nucleus?
C. Turn on Show element The name of the element
name. What causes the is based on the amount
element name to change? of protons located in the
nucleus
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
● Use the arrows to create an atom with two protons,
Subatomic two neutrons, and two electrons.
particles ● Turn on Show element name.
Question: What are the properties of protons, neutrons, and electrons?
1. Observe: Turn on Show element symbol and Element notation. Three
numbers surround the element symbol: the mass number (A), electrical
charge (no number is displayed if the atom is neutral), and the atomic
number (Z).
2. Investigate: Watch how the numbers change as you add or remove particles.
A. Which number is equal to the number of protons in the atom? atomic number
B. How can you calculate the number of neutrons (N) in an atom? atomic mass minus atomic
number
C. Which particle (proton, neutron, or electron) has a
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