Name _________________________________________

Ms. Heenan

Grade

/20

Redo_____ Grade

/20
LAB # _____
TITLE: Different Atoms
OBJECTIVE: Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter that make up
everyday objects. A desk, the air, even you are made of atoms! There are 90
naturally occurring kinds of atoms and scientists in labs have been able to
make even more. But what is it about one atom that makes it different from
another? Its all about what we find on the inside of an atom, its subatomic
parts.
Atoms are made of 3 basic subatomic particles. The protons have a
positive charge, the electrons have a negative charge, and the neutrons have a
neutral charge. The protons and the neutrons are both found in the center of
the atom called the nucleus. Floating around the nucleus are the electrons.
The electrons are much smaller than the protons and neutrons and therefore
have no mass. Protons and neutrons both have a mass of 1 atomic mass unit
(1 a.m.u).
All of the atoms known on Earth are displayed on the period table of
elements. An element is all of only 1 type of atom. Different elements are
made up of different atoms. From looking at the periodic table we can see a
certain elements atomic number and atomic mass. The atomic number is
always equal to the number of protons in that elements atom. The atomic
mass is always equal to the number of protons + neutrons in that elements
atom. In this lab today we will determine the number of protons, neutrons,
and electrons based on the information given in the periodic table of elements.
VOCABULARY: Atoms, Matter, Subatomic Particles, Proton, Electron, Neutron,
Nucleus, Atomic Mass Unit, Periodic Table, Elements, Atomic Mass, Atomic
Number

PRELAB QUESTIONS:
1. What makes one atom different from another?

2. List the charges of the following subatomic particles:

a. Protonb. Electronc. Neutron-

3. List the location of the following subatomic particles

a. Protonb. Electronc. Neutron4. Atomic Mass is equal
to:___________________________________________________
5. Atomic Number is equal to:
________________________________________________
6. Label the following parts of the atom based on what you read: proton,
neutron, electron,

nucleus

MATERIALS: Periodic Table of Elements

PROCEDURE:
1. Familiarize yourself with the diagram to the right. This is how an element
is represented on the Periodic Table of Elements. Keep in mind that
certain diagrams may look slightly different. For example, our agendas
show the elements a little different.
2. The atomic number (always the smaller of the two numbers) is equal to
the number of protons in the elements atoms. Therefore, carbon has 6
protons since its atomic number is 6.
3. Since protons have a positive charge, there needs to be an equal amount
of negative particles called electrons. Therefore carbon has 6 electrons
as well.
4. The atomic mass is equal to the number of Protons + Neutrons. Always
round your atomic mass to the nearest whole
number. For carbon that means 12.011 a.m.u.
would become 12 a.m.u. Once you have
rounded you can now subtract:
Atomic Mass- # of Protons = # of Neutrons (12-

6
C
Carbon
12.011

6=6 Carbon has 6 neutrons)

5. Using these instructions, fill in the chart on the next page.

DATA:
Element

Atomic

Atomic

Name

Number

Mass

Hydrogen
Helium
Lithium
Beryllium
Carbon
Oxygen
Fluorine
Magnesium
Silicon
Phosphorus
Sulfur
Argon

Protons

Electrons

Neutrons

Titanium
Cobalt
Arsenic
Bromine
QUESTIONS:
1. Why do the number of protons and the number of electrons always have
to be found in equal amounts within an atom?

2. Explain why the electron is not calculated in the mass of an atom.

3. Do you think there are any atoms on the periodic table that come from
different elements but have the same number of protons? Explain why or
why not.

4. Which subatomic particle (proton, electron, neutron) is not always equal

to the other two subatomic particles. Give one example.