Activity & lab notes to model
Atoms, Elements, & Compounds

Activity 1

Get the following materials

• 1 long bolt
• 1 short bolt
• 2 hex nuts
• 2 square nuts

 

Place both kinds of nut atoms and bolt atoms in 4 separate piles on your desk.

Short bolt      Hex nut       Square nut       Long bolt

How many different kinds of atoms do these nuts and bolts represent?

 

If each kind of atom makes up a different element, How many different elements are represented?

 

In order to make a compound, at least two atoms have to combine, or be bonded together.

For example, a short bolt atom may be combined (bonded) to a square nut atom.

A sketch representing this combination could be:

 

 

Assuming that Bo is a symbol for a short bolt atom and Sq a symbol for a square nut atom, then the above combination could be described by the following symbol BoSq.

 

What would the following symbols represent? BoSq₂

 

What does the subscript 2 mean?

 

Make a sketch representing this combination.

 

 

The symbol for a long bolt atom and a hex nut atom are shown below.

       Bl               Hx

If a long bolt atom and hex nut atom were combined , the what would the shorthand symbol be?

 

 

• Use 1 long bolt, 1 short bolt, one square nut and one hex nut to determine how many other different combinations (compounds) can be made.
• Once a combination is made (1) draw it and (2) write its symbol in Data Table #1.
• Then take the combination apart and try again. 
• Those already constructed have been entered in the table.
• Darken the heads of long bolts in your sketch.This will serve to distinguish them from short ones.

 Data Table #1

Picture of Combination	Shorthand Symbol
	BoSq
	BlHx

 

How many different compounds did you make?

 

To be counted as a different compound the combination has to have a different formula.

 

How do your combinations compare to another teams?

 

 

The set of symbols in the table above are also called formulas.

A symbol represents one kind of atom, but, a formula represents a combination of more than one kind of atom. It tells the number and kinds of bolts and nuts (atoms) held (bonded) together.

What is the formula for the combination of two short bolts and two square nuts?

 

What do the subscripts mean?

 

Using long bolts and hex nuts, make a compound that has the formula
B_l2Hx₂ and sketch it.

 

Could it be made in a different way?

If so, sketch it.

 

 

What information about a combination is lost by just using the symbol?

 

 

Sketch the number of different ways two long bolts can be combined with four square nuts in the table below and write a formula for each. All four nuts have to be used each time.

Data Table #2

Picture of Combination	Formula

 

Shorthand symbols could be used to describe how to form a combination (compound). For example, a combination of two long bolts and two hex nuts are threaded together.

This could be described in words

A ( _______________________) is made from

TWO LONG BOLTS ( ______________)

PLUS TWO HEX NUTS ( ______________)   

TWO-BOLT-TWO-NUT COMBINATION (______________)

or pictures

 

 

or by using symbols

2B l + 2Hx   ->  Bl₂ Hx₂

 

What does the Bl and Hx to the left of the arrow represent?

 

What does the arrow mean?

 

What does the formula, Bl₂ Hx₂ to the right of the arrow mean?

 

What do the prefix numbers represent on the left side of arrow?

 

What about the subscript numbers to the right of the arrow?

 

 

Create your own interaction with bolts and nuts:

Interaction 1

Draw a Diagram

 

 

 

Write a word description of this interaction.

 

 

 

Now, write a description using symbols.

 

 

 

Interaction 2

Draw a Diagram

 

 

Write a word description of this interaction.

 

 

Now, write a description using symbols.

 

 

How does this relate to the chemisty?

There are millions of different substances in the universe.

However, scientists believe that everything on the earth and the stars are made of various combinations of only about 100 basic substances called elements.

They can be explored in the electronic periodic table of elements supported by the Los Alamos national laboratory.

 Some Elements and symbols

Name	Symbol	Name	Symbol	Name	Symbol
Aluminum	Al	Iodine	I	Oxygen	O
Calcium	Ca	Iron	Fe	Potassium	K
Carbon	C	Lead	Pb	Silver	Ag
Chlorine	CI	Magnesium	Mg	Sodium	Na
Copper	Cu	Mercury	Hg	Sulfur	S
Helium	He	Nitrogen	N	Zinc	Zn
Hydrogen	H

 

The penny is made of copper.

What is its symbol?

 

Many beverage cans are made of aluminum.

What is its symbol?

 

The oxygen found in air is made of two atoms.

Write its formula.

 

The nitrogen in air is also made of two atoms.

What would its formula be?

 

The formula for the compound water is H₂O.

What atoms are found in water?

 

 

How many of each kind of atom are there?

 

 

Complete the table below by adding the missing information.

Some substances & what they are made of!

Substance	Formula	kind of atom	Number of each Atoms
Water	H2O	H	2
		O	1
Table Salt	NaCl	Na
		Cl
Dry Cleaning Fluid	CC14
Sugar	C12H22O11
Ammonia	NH3
Baking Soda	NaHCO3
Rust	FeO