Classroom Resources: Atomic Structure
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26 – 49 of 49 Classroom Resources
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Elements, Model of the Atom, Periodic Table, Introduction, Atoms, Electrons | Middle School, High School
Activity: Periodic Puzzler Mark as Favorite (9 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about what makes up an atom and how important protons are in the placement of elements on the periodic table.
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Atoms, Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory, Matter, Elements, History, Introduction, Periodic Table | Middle School, High School
Animation: Atoms: The Building Blocks of Matter Animation Mark as Favorite (31 Favorites)
This animation explores the idea that everything is made of atoms, and that since atoms are so extremely small, even small objects contain vast numbers of atoms. Students will see several examples to illustrate this point. Then they will be given a brief overview of the evolution of how people thought about atoms from the ancient Greeks through Dalton. This animation was featured in the May 2022 issue of Chemistry Solutions. **This video has no audio**
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Atomic Radius, Ionic Radius, Electrons, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Animation: Atomic & Ionic Radii Animation Mark as Favorite (70 Favorites)
This animation explores patterns in atomic and ionic radii. Students will look at the different sizes of atoms in the third period and the atoms in the sixth group to see trends across periods and down groups. They will also look at an atom and its corresponding cation as well as an atom and its corresponding anion. **This video has no audio**
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Orbitals , Model of the Atom, Electrons | High School
Activity: Animation Activity: Orbitals Mark as Favorite (20 Favorites)
In this activity, students will view an animation that explores the shapes of the 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, and 3d orbitals and how they build up and overlap as each successive orbital is added.
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Model of the Atom, Electrons, Electron Configuration, Quantum Numbers, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table | High School
Animation: Orbitals Animation Mark as Favorite (140 Favorites)
This animation explores the shapes of the 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, and 3d orbitals and how they build up and overlap as each successive orbital is added. **This video has no audio**
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Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles | High School
Activity: Walking through Walls Mark as Favorite (7 Favorites)
In this activity, students will examine a story about a General who wanted to create an army of soldiers with the ability to walk through walls. Students will evaluate the scenario, generate questions, and use their understanding of atomic structure to explain why it is impossible to pass through a solid wall.
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Periodic Table, Elements, Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Element Brochure Mark as Favorite (8 Favorites)
In this activity, students will research a common element from the periodic table and create a brochure about it. Students will include information about its atomic structure, subatomic particles, Bohr model, chemical symbol, and common uses.
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Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Ions, Isotopes, Atoms, Atomic Mass | High School, Middle School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Building an Atom Mark as Favorite (114 Favorites)
In this simulation, students manipulate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an element and determine how these effect the mass number, atomic number, and other properties of an atom.
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Electron Affinity, Atomic Radius, Ionic Radius, Ions, Atoms, Periodic Table, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Valence Electrons | High School
Simulation: Periodic Trends II: Electron Affinity, Atomic Radius & Ionic Radius Mark as Favorite (33 Favorites)
The May 2016 simulation is a follow-up to the March 2016 simulation. Students will focus their investigation on the electron affinity of an atom. Through the use of this simulation students will have the opportunity to examine the formation of an anion as well as compare the atomic radius of a neutral atom to the ionic radius of its anion.
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Atomic Radius, Ionic Radius, Ionization Energy, Valence Electrons, Periodic Table, Atoms, Electrons, Subatomic Particles, Ions, Model of the Atom | High School
Simulation: Periodic Trends: Ionization Energy, Atomic Radius & Ionic Radius Mark as Favorite (100 Favorites)
In this simulation for the March 2016 issue, students can investigate the periodic trends of atomic radius, ionization energy, and ionic radius. By choosing elements from the periodic table, atoms can be selected for a side by side comparison and analysis. Students can also attempt to ionize an atom by removing its valence electrons. Quantitative data is available for each periodic trend, and can be further examined in a graph.
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Periodic Table, Review, Elements, Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom, Atomic Mass | Elementary School, Middle School
Activity: Periodic Table Challenge Game Mark as Favorite (24 Favorites)
In this activity, students will play an online game that quizzes their knowledge about the atomic structure of the first 20 elements on the periodic table. Students will be asked to identify different elements based on information related to subatomic particles, placement on the periodic table or from a provided Bohr model. This game has several options for students to choose from, and can be used to review content, or as a formative assessment.
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Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding, Lewis Structures, Model of the Atom, Valence Electrons | Middle School, High School
Activity: Chemists in the Lab Game Mark as Favorite (55 Favorites)
In this activity, students will play a game that is modeled after Settlers of Catan to explore how atoms of certain elements combine in fixed ratios to form molecules.
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Model of the Atom, Atoms, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Valence Electrons, Lewis Dot Diagrams, Electron Configuration, Physical Properties | Middle School, High School
Project: Atomic Holiday Ornaments Mark as Favorite (41 Favorites)
In this project, students will design an atomic holiday ornament for a chosen element, along with a certificate of authenticity to display on a “Chemis-tree”. Students will also have the opportunity to vote on the ornaments created by their classmates.
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Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory, Electron Configuration, Electrons, Valence Electrons, Orbitals , Subatomic Particles, Atomic Radius, Ionization Energy | High School
Activity: Bohr Model vs. Quantum Mechanical Model Mark as Favorite (67 Favorites)
In this activity, students will compare two models of the atom using cognitive scaffolding to move from the more simplistic Bohr model to the more abstract and accurate quantum mechanical model. They will examine experimental data and use it to explain periodic trends that cannot be accounted for with the Bohr model.
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Electron Configuration, Electrons, Atoms, Ions, Orbitals , Valence Electrons, Model of the Atom | High School
Activity: Electron Configuration and Orbital Diagrams Mark as Favorite (68 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn how to apply the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion principle, and Hund’s rule to model electron configurations and orbital diagrams. They will use colored flat marbles to represent different directional spins of electrons as they fill orbitals based on energy level. They will then look for patterns in the electron configurations and orbital diagrams of various atoms and ions.
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Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom, Elements, Molecular Formula | Middle School, Elementary School
Project: What's It Made Of? Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this project each student will conduct research to discover what compounds, molecules, and elements make up a basic everyday object of their choice. The student will create a poster detailing what the object is made of, including a Bohr model. The student will also create a question about their object’s atomic structure for their peers as part of a culminating project gallery walk to observe, discuss, and learn about each poster.
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Atomic Mass, Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, Periodic Table, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Dimitri Mendeleev Video Mark as Favorite (69 Favorites)
This video tells the story of how Dimitri Mendeleev organized the periodic table, even leaving gaps to be filled in with elements that weren't yet discovered.
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Radioactive Isotopes, History, Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom, Atomic Theory | Middle School, High School
Video: Ernest Rutherford Video Mark as Favorite (71 Favorites)
Rutherford's initial research was studying alpha particles, which he hypothesized were helium nuclei. With the help of Hans Geiger, Rutherford conducted the gold foil experiment, which justifies that the nucleus of an atom is a dense collection of protons and contains the majority of an atom’s mass. It also inferred that most of the atom is empty space and electrons are not located in the nucleus. He won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1908 for his studies on radioactive substances.
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Atomic Theory, Electrons, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, History | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Niels Bohr Video Mark as Favorite (69 Favorites)
This video tells the story of Niels Bohr, a great scientist who redefined how we think about atoms and the electron. Bohr’s model of the atom helped to advance understanding of subatomic particles, and holds an important place in the history and development of the atomic theory.
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Subatomic Particles, Model of the Atom, Atomic Mass, Electrons | Middle School, High School
Project: Element Project Mark as Favorite (79 Favorites)
In this project, students will become familiar with and have a workable understanding of atomic structure. The students will also create and construct a model of an atom.
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Atomic Theory, Model of the Atom, Subatomic Particles, History | High School
Project: The Scientists Behind the Atom Mark as Favorite (101 Favorites)
In this project, students will create a digital (or paper) book about the scientists who contributed to our understanding of the atom.
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Atomic Theory, History, Interdisciplinary, Culminating Project, Model of the Atom | High School, Middle School
Activity: Scientist Infographic Mark as Favorite (50 Favorites)
In this activity, students will design and publish an infographic focused on a well-known scientist and their contribution to the development of the atomic model.
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Model of the Atom, Periodic Table, Subatomic Particles, Electrons, Valence Electrons, Ions | High School, Middle School
Lab: Sweet Model of the Atom Mark as Favorite (63 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will use different candies to represent electrons, protons, and neutrons to gain a better understanding of atoms, ions, and isotopes.
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History, Physical Properties, Observations, Model of the Atom | Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Video: Ancient Chemistry Video Mark as Favorite (72 Favorites)
This video traces the history of chemistry from the discovery of fire, through the various metal ages, and finally to the great philosophers.