An Introduction to Atoms

Intro to Atoms

Directions

As you complete the lesson, you will need to fill in the information on your notes page and use that information to answer questions as you progress through the lesson.

What are atoms?

• Atoms are the basic unit that makes up all matter.

  • Remember: Matter is anything that has both mass and volume.

• We can only see atoms if we use a very strong microscope. It is called an electron microscope.

Electron microscope

Multiple Choice

Matter must have what two things?

• Volume and Mass

• Motion and Mass

• Motion and Volume

• Matter and Volume

Multiple Choice

True or False. Scienists can use any type of microscope to view an atom.

• True

• False

Atomic Particles

• The nucleus of an atom is the center.

• The nucleus is made of neutrons and protons.

• Electrons rotate in electron clouds around the nucleus.

  • Protons = positive electrical charge

  • Neutrons = no electrical charge (neutral)

  • Electrons = negative electrical charge

    • Smallest part of an atom.

Match

Match each atomic particle to its charge.

• Nucleus

• Electron

• Proton

• Neutron

The center of an atom

Negative charge

Positive charge

Neutral or no charge

• The center of an atom

• Negative charge

• Positive charge

• Neutral or no charge

Protons and Electrons

• Most atoms are neutral. This means the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.

• Examples:

  • Hydrogen:

    • Number of protons = 1

    • Number of electrons = 1

  • Oxygen

    • Number of protons = 8

    • Number of electrons = 8

​

​Hydrogen

Oxygen

Dropdown

If one atom of Helium as two protons, it will have​

Select answer

electrons.

Building Blocks of Life

• Sometimes atoms combine. When two or more atoms combine, they make a molecule.

  • Examples: Water, Sodium Chloride (Table Salt)

• When the atoms that combine are the same, they are called an element.

  • Examples: Gold, Silver, Hydrogen

• If the atoms that combine are different, they're still molecules, but they are called compounds.

  • Examples: Water, Glucose (Sugar)

Parts of an Atom

• Label your atom to reflect the parts of the atom shown below.

Use the diagram to count the number of each particle. Fill out the number of each on your notes page:

• Number of protons = ___

• Number of electrons = ___

• Number of Neutrons = ___

Atoms with 6 protons and 6 electrons are known as Carbon.

Labeling

Label the parts of the atom.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Proton

Neutron

Electron

Multiple Choice

If an atom of neon has 10 electrons, it will have ___ protons.

• 20

• 10

• 5

• 2

Multiple Choice

If an oxygen atom has 8 protons, it will have 8 _________.

• electrons

• neutrons

• atoms

• nucleus

Multiple Choice

The center of an atom is called the _____________.

• Neutron

• Proton

• Electron

• Nucleus

Multiple Choice

The atomic particle that is the smallest, or has the least amount of mass, is

• A proton

• An electron

• A neutron

• An element