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Electron Configuration Gizmo Logan Alberts
biology (666)
Mitchell College
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Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________
Student Exploration: Electron Configuration
Vocabulary: atomic number, atomic radius, Aufbau principle, chemical family, diagonal rule, electron configuration, Hund’s rule, orbital, Pauli exclusion principle, period, shell, spin, subshell
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.) E->
- Elvis Perkins, a rather shy fellow, is getting on the bus shown at right. Which seat do you think he will probably sit in? Mark this seat with an “E.”
M->
Marta Warren gets on the bus after Elvis. She is tired after a long day at work. Where do you think she will sit? Mark this seat with an “M.”
In your experience, do strangers getting on a bus like to sit with other
people if there is an empty seat available? No they would rather sit by
themselves if they can.
Gizmo Warm-up Just like passengers getting on a bus, electrons orbit the nuclei of atoms in particular patterns. You will discover these patterns (and how electrons sometimes act like passengers boarding a bus) with the Electron Configuration Gizmo.
To begin, check that Lithium is selected on the PERIODIC TABLE tab.
- The atomic number is equal to the number of protons in an atom.
How many protons are in a lithium atom? 3
- A neutral atom has the same number of electrons and protons.
How many electrons are in a neutral lithium atom? 3
- Select the ELECTRON CONFIGURATION tab, and check that Energy is selected. Click twice in the 1s box at lower left and once in the 2s box. Observe the atom model at right.
A. What do you see? 3 electrons started circling around the nucleus
B. Click Check. Is this electron configuration correct? yes
Activity A:
Small atoms
Get the Gizmo ready: ●On the PERIODIC TABLE tab, select H (hydrogen). ●Select the ELECTRON CONFIGURATION tab. ●Click Reset.
Introduction: Electrons are arranged in orbitals , subshells , and shells. These levels of organization are shown by the boxes of the Gizmo. Each box represents an orbital. The subshells are labeled with letters ( s , p , d , and f ) and the shells are labeled with numbers.
Question: How are electrons arranged in elements with atomic numbers 1 through 10?
- Arrange : The Aufbau principle states that electrons occupy the lowest-energy orbital. When Energy is selected, the orbitals are arranged from lowest-energy at the bottom to highest-energy at the top. Click once in the 1s box to add an electron to the only orbital in the s subshell of the first shell.
Click Check. What is the electron configuration of hydrogen? correct (1s^1) (if you meant the atomic radius then that equals 53 picometers)
- Arrange : Click Next element to select helium. Add another electron to the 1s orbital. The arrows represent the spin of the electron. What do you notice about the arrows? one is pointed up one is pointed down meaning they are going in opposite directions.
The Pauli exclusion principle states that electrons sharing an orbital have opposite spins.
Check your work : Click Check. What is the electron configuration of helium? correct (1s^2) (atomic radius=31 picometers)
Arrange : Click Next element and create electron configurations for lithium, beryllium, and boron. Click Check to check your work, and then list each configuration below:
Lithium: correct (1s^2, 2s^1)(atomic radius=167 picometers) Beryllium:correct (1s^2, 2s^2)(atomic radius=112 picometers) Boron: correct (1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^1) (atomic radius=87 picometers)
Arrange : Click Next element to select carbon. Add a second electron to the first 2p orbital.
Apply : Atoms are most stable when their outermost shell is full. If their outermost shell is not full, atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until the shell fills up. While doing this, atoms react and form chemical bonds with other atoms.
Based on this, what can you infer about the reactivity of helium and neon? they won't have a reaction cause both of their outer shells are full
- Think and discuss : Select the PERIODIC TABLE tab, and look at the secon d row, or period , of the table. How does this row reflect the subshells of the second shell?
Activity B:
Atomic radii
Get the Gizmo ready: ●On the PERIODIC TABLE tab, select Na (sodium). ●Select the ELECTRON CONFIGURATION tab.
Question: How do the radii of atoms change across a period of the periodic table?
- Predict : Positively charged protons in the nucleus of an atom are attracted to negatively charged electrons.
How do you think the atomic radii will change as electrons are added to a shell? i think when electrons are added to the shell it will become unstable 2. Arrange : Create a proper electron configuration for sodium. A fter clicking Check , note the Electron configuration and the Atomic radius now listed at right.
Sodium electron configuration: 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^ Atomic radius: 190 picometers
- Compare : Click Next element , and then add an electron to the magnesium atom. Click check, and record the electron configuration and atomic radius below.
Magnesium electron configuration:1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^ Atomic radius: 145 picometers
- Gather data : Create electron configurations for the next six elemen ts. Record the electron configuration and atomic radius of each. (Note: The symbol for picometer is pm .)
Element Number of electrons
Electron configuration
Atomic radius (pm) Aluminum 13 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^1 118 Silicon 14 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^2 111 Phosphorus 15 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^3 98 Sulfur 16 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^4 88 Chlorine 17 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^5 79 Argon 18 1s^2, 2s^2, 2p^6, 3s^2, 3p^6 71
- Analyze : How does the atomic radius change across a period of the periodic table?
it decreases
(Activity B continued on next page)
- Think and discuss : Compare the electron configurations of hydrogen, lith ium, and sodium. Why do you think these elements are grouped in the same family?
Answer: they all have only one electron in their outer shell
Electron Configuration Gizmo Logan Alberts
Course: biology (666)
University: Mitchell College
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