Atom and Atomic Structure

Activity 2

In this activity, I made a model of three elements of the periodic table. Due to a lack of Starbursts and other materials, the elements chosen had to be small.

Oxygen

Oxygen's atomic number is 8, so it has 8 total electrons (red Starbursts) with 6 valence electrons in the outer level. The nucleus contains 8 protons (orange) and 8 neutrons (yellow). The atomic mass of oxygen is 15.9994 amu. 

Oxygen nucleus (8 protons, 8 neutrons)

Oxygen Atom (8 electrons)

*Click on the pictures for a larger view*

Potassium

Potassium is number 19 on the periodic table, its atomic number is 19. With 19 electrons and protons along with 20 neutrons, the atomic mass is 39.0983 amu. Potassium is in the first column which makes it an alkali metal.

Potassium nucleus (19 protons, 20 neutrons)

Potassium Atom (19 electrons)

Titanium

The element of Titanium has an atomic number of 22. The atom therefore has 22 electrons and protons along with 26 neutrons. Titanium has an atomic mass of 47.867 amu. It is a transition metal within the middle of the periodic table.

Titanium Atom (22 electrons)

Titanium nucleus (22 protons, 26 neutrons)

3. *In every model, the number of electrons and protons are equal*

4. In order to make an isotope, the number of neutrons would change. The number of protons and electrons cannot change because then the element would change. If I constructed a model of an isotope, I would add more neutrons to the nucleus which would result in a larger atomic mass of the element. 

5. Considering the overall volume of my element models, the electron levels make up most of the volume of an atom. In an actual atom, the nucleus is minuscule yet makes up the majority of the mass of an atom. This is because protons and neutrons weigh around 1 amu each while electrons weigh basically nothing. Regarding volume, the cloud surrounding the nucleus which contains the electrons takes up a majority of the atom's space. Most of this electron cloud is made up of empty space which is where a lot of an atom's volume comes from.

Excited Atom

6-7. This oxygen atom is distinctly in an excited state because the electrons have moved to the outermost level. This occurs when a flame or other source supplies energy to the atom. When the atom is returning to its stable ground state, it emits a quantum of energy as the electrons jump back down to the lower levels. This chemical reaction is often in the form of a color such as a blue or orange flame.

8. The colors that certain elements release represent different wavelengths. Blue light has shorter wavelengths than red light. If light from a flame is passed through a prism, only narrow colored lines are observed. The pattern of lines emitted by an element is called its line spectrum which can be used to identify specific elements. 

9. The colors of fireworks come from specific elements. Different elements on the periodic table produce different colors. Reds arise from strontium compounds, green colors come from barium compounds, sodium compounds produce yellow light, and copper salts create blue. Any color of the rainbow can be produced with the correct element.

Organization of Periodic Table

The periodic table of elements is structured very complexly and intricately. The elements are ordered by their number of protons. For example, hydrogen is number 1 because it has only 1 proton. The order rises numerically by rows. In most columns, the elements share similar qualities like the noble gases in column 8A. They are called the noble gases because they have 8 electrons in their outer shell which makes them unable to form compounds with other elements. In the middle of the table are the transition metals. This block of elements are all found in a solid state in nature. Below the table of elements are 2 rows of man-made elements. These are called the metalloids and are not found in nature but contain the link for elements with 58-71 protons as well as 90-103 protons. 

Example Elements

Alkali Metals: lithium and sodium

Alkaline Earth Metals: magnesium and calcium

Halogens: chlorine and iodine

Noble gases: neon and radon

Transition metals: cobalt and zinc

Non-metals: nitrogen and silicon

Metalloids: uranium and cerium