Origin of Atoms and Atomic Models

Hydrogen atoms were made:

• in the Big Bang

• Inside stars, using the process of nuclear fusion

• In a supernova

• Artificially, by humans

Answer explanation

All hydrogen atoms were made in the Big Bang. All other atoms were made from hydrogen atoms. There was a small amount of helium and a tiny amount of lithium made during the Big Bang, if you want to get absolutely technical.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-2

Atoms of elements from helium (#2) up through iron (#26) were made:

• in the Big Bang

• Inside stars using the process of nuclear fusion

• In a supernova

• Artificially, by humans

Answer explanation

Stars slam atoms together until they fuse. This creates new, bigger atoms. For example, our Sun is fusing hydrogen into helium atoms. Older stars fuse helium atoms into larger atoms. This process stops once iron starts to be made, because it takes more energy to make iron than is produced. The star runs out of energy and dies.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Atoms of elements from cobalt (#27) up through uranium (#92) were made:

• in the Big Bang

• Inside stars using the process of nuclear fusion

• In a supernova

• Artificially, by humans

Answer explanation

All naturally occurring elements heavier than iron were made in the moments of a supernova, when the forces are so great that all kinds of atoms are fused together to make very large, very heavy atoms.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Atoms of elements from neptunium (#93) up through ognesson(#118) were made:

• in the Big Bang

• Inside stars using the process of nuclear fusion

• In a supernova

• Artificially, by humans

Answer explanation

Uranium (#92) is the largest naturally occurring element in the universe.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Which of the following is the most correct model of the atom?

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Answer explanation

The Bohr model is the most accurate model of the 5 that are shown. Bohr realized that electrons can only exist in certain, very specific energy levels. Only the quantum model is more accurate, and frankly, that's difficult to represent in only 2 dimensions.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-1

Explain where the atoms in your body were made.

• Hydrogen was made in the Big Bang

• Helium through iron are made in stars

• Everything from iron to uranium is made in supernovas

• 2 of these explain where the atoms in your body came from

• All of these explain where the atoms in your body came from

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Which of the following shows what Democritus thought an atom looked like?

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Answer explanation

Democritus thought that the different properties of substances was determined by the shape of the atoms it was made of.

Which of the following shows what Dalton thought an atom looked like?

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Answer explanation

Dalton thought that atoms were indivisible spheres.

Which of the following shows what J.J. Thompson thought an atom looked like?

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Answer explanation

Thompson discovered negative electrons. He knew that atoms were neutral, so he thought that negative electrons were stuck throughout the positive matrix of an atom. Electrons were the negative raisins (chocolate chips) in a positive plum pudding (cookie).

Which of the following shows what Rutherford thought an atom looked like?

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Answer explanation

Rutherford discovered the nucleus. He knew that electrons must orbit outside the nucleus, but he thought they could be anywhere. I know this is most common picture of an atom that you've seen, but IT IS WRONG!