Inside the atom

to practice naming elements  to elemental search information   for info on the three subatomic models   try some of the links from the pages at the right for more information [hint]   for help on other chemistry topics             Na Lewis model of sodium atom           latest update: 12 July 2002 © 1999-2002, SD Loder

If you need more information on the inner workings of the atom, check out the websites below. Try the quiz pages to see how well you REALLY understand how the atom works.   http://www.watertown.k12.wi.us/hs/teachers/buescher/atomtime.asp History of the atom http://www.chem4kids.com/files/atom_structure.html Structure of the atom http://www.lbl.gov/abc/Basic.html http://particleadventure.org/particleadventure/frameless/startstandard.html http://klbproductions.com/yogi/periodic/atom_anatomy.html http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/3-atoms.htm http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/atoms/slides/sld001.htm http://wine1.sb.fsu.edu/chm1045/notes/Atoms/AtomStr2/Atoms03.htm http://wine1.sb.fsu.edu/chm1045/notes/Atoms/AtomStr1/Atoms02.htm [more in depth information] http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/electron/section3/ History of the electron http://library.thinkquest.org/3310/higraphics/textbook/u01s02.html http://www.cs.stedwards.edu/~wright/text/atom.html http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mdhs/science/chemistry/ch2_1.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/3659/atommole/atoms.html quiz http://www.cs.stedwards.edu/~wright/text/chemque1.html no live results yet; print completed sheet and turn in http://motted.hawaii.edu/~quizuser/quizzes/karent/Quiz2Atoms.html http://proton.csudh.edu/lecture_help/lechelp.html click on Atoms and Elements, then on Protons, electrons and neutrons [also great place for self-quizzes on other topics] In class, we studied three models of subatomic particles [particles inside the atom]. Here is another interpretation: The Bohr model shows all 3 subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons are POSITIVE, neutrons are NEUTRAL and [surprise!] electrons are NEGATIVE. The "rain gauge" model shows all electrons. The lowest level holds 2 electrons only, and there are 2 levels that have a capacity of 8 electrons, 2 with a capacity of 18 electrons and 2 with a capacity of 32 electrons. Levels fill from bottom up, and any electrons left on the topmost level are called valence electrons ; these have the highest energy and are the more important electrons. The Lewis dot structure is made by using the chemical symbol for the element, and placing dots representing the valence electrons around the symbol, 2 dots per side . One way to find valence electrons is count the number of electrons that are on the topfilled level of the rain gauge model. Another way is to look at the Group number [using the A/B system] above the family on the Periodic table. THAT is the # of valence electrons! check http://www.chemistrycoach.com/lds1.htm or http://www.fordhamprep.pvt.k12.ny.us/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson38.htm for more information on Lewis dot models Protons are found by looking at the atomic number of the element; the number of protons is ALWAYS the same as the atomic number. In a neutral [uncharged] atom, the number of electrons is the same as the number of protons. This implies that in a charged atom, called an ion, the number of electrons will  differ from that of the protons. Neutrons are found by rounding the atomic mass to the nearest whole number and subtracting the number of protons. In an isotope, the number of neutrons differs from the typical number of neutrons, but is still found by subtracting the number of protons from the mass number. Changing the number of protons changes the element; changing the number of electrons produces an ion. Changing the number of neutrons produces an isotope. But you knew this.

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