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PhET Simulation- Atoms and Isotopes

Last updated 3 months ago
14 questions
Everything around us is made up of different elements. The air has oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N). Plants and people have lots of carbon (C). Hydrogen (H) is in water. Play until you discover which particle (or particles) determines the name of the element you build. What did you discover?
1

Build an element that has
Protons: 6
Neutrons: 6
Electrons: 6

What is it?

1

Build an element that has
Protons: 7
Neutrons: 6
Electrons: 6
What is it?

1

Is the element in question two an isotope?

1

The element in 2 is charged. What do we call a charged particle

1

Build an element that has
Protons: 6
Neutrons: 7
Electrons: 7
what is it

1

What subatomic particle gives an element its identity?

Play until you discover what affects the mass of your atom.
1

Which particle(s) are heavy?

1

Which particles are light and have a negligible mass?

1

Write a rule for determining mass of an atom.

1

Design a neutral atom with a mass of 8 and then draw it here:

1

Design an atom with a mass of 12 that is an ion and then draw it here:

1

Design an atom with a mass of 12 that is an isotope and then draw it here

1

Draw an atom of oxygen

1

Background: Atoms of the same element always have the same number of protons, but the number of neutrons can vary. When this happens, the atoms are called isotopes.
Task: Use the Claim–Evidence–Reasoning framework to explain what an isotope is.
  1. Claim: Write a clear statement that defines what an isotope is.
  2. Evidence: Provide at least two pieces of scientific evidence (for example, use specific isotope examples like carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14, or data showing proton and neutron numbers).
  3. Reasoning: Explain how your evidence supports your claim. Connect your ideas to scientific principles about protons, neutrons, and atomic identity.