Welcome to our unit on the structure of the atom, where we embark on a fascinating exploration of the microscopic realm that forms the foundation of chemistry. We will unravel the intricacies of atoms, investigating their subatomic particles, electron configurations, and the profound role they play in shaping the physical and chemical properties of matter.

Required Readings:

  1. cK-12, Chapters 6 & 7
  2. Chemistry: Atoms First, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3, sections 3.1 – 3.4

Monday, 20 November

In class

  1. Unit 2 assessment.
Deep breath and relax. You’ve got this.

Thursday, 16 November

In class

  1. Writing a technical report for the sunscreen experiment.
    • Technical report template pdf
    • Peer review using Floop
    • Final edits and submission.
  2. Preparation for the Unit 2 assessment on Monday.
    • Partner selection sheet

Assignments

  1. Review and study for the Unit 2 assessment.
Today you will practice and hone your writing skills for presenting scientific data.

Tuesday, 14 November

In class

  1. Sun screen chemistry experiments.

Assignments

  1. Please complete the following survey by the end of the week with your parents.
  2. Partner assessment on atomic structure Monday, 20 November.
Sun sensitive paper reacts with UVB radiation making it useful in testing sunscreens.

Friday, 10 November

In class

  1. Warm up exercises: Quantum mechanics
  2. Return and discuss your work on the Coulombic Interactions assessment.
  3. The Chemistry of Sun Protection.

Assignments

  1. Dress for laboratory work on Tuesday.
  2. Bring the materials agreed upon by your working group.
Our favorite star, the sun.

Wednesday, 8 November

In class

  1. I’m sorry that I am not able to be with all of you today. My son is sick and I am taking care of him. Please work hard on the materials I have left with the substitute and treat them with the same respect and kindness you treat me. See you on Friday.
  2. Whiteboard problem set: quantum mechanics and electron configurations. Use the following resources as needed:

Assignments

  1. Read sections 7.18 and 7.19 in cK-12 before the start of class on Friday.
A visual way to remember the order that electrons occupy atomic orbitals.

Monday, 6 November

In class

  1. Discuss your dart simulation plot.
  2. Q&A on the reading assignment.
  3. How are electrons arranged in atoms?
    • Electron configurations

Assignments

  1. Read sections 7.10 – 7.15 in cK-12 before class on Wednesday.
Radial distribution plot for a 1s atomic orbital. How close was your dart simulation plot in terms of shape?

Thursday, 2 November

In class

  1. Short assessment: Coulombic Interactions.
  2. The atom as described by quantum mechanics.
  3. Modeling the behavior or the electron in a hydrogen atom with darts.

Assignments

  1. Read sections 7.7, 7.8, and 7.9 in cK-12 before the start of class on Monday.
  2. Print the graph you created in question 1 in the Analysis section of the simulation we conducted today in class. Tape this graph into your notebook.
An atom described by quantum mechanics looks and behaves much more differently than we would expect.

Tuesday, 31 October

In class

  1. Warm up exercise: Coulomb’s law concepts
  2. What is the electron in an atom of hydrogen doing to produce its spectrum?

Assignments

  1. Review for a short assessment on Coulomb’s law next class.
  2. TBA
The quantum jump is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the whole of science.

Friday, 27 October

In class

  1. Warm up exercises: electromagnetic radiation.
  2. Measuring the wavelengths in the spectrum of hydrogen.
  3. What factors affect the force of attraction between charged particles?
  4. Feedback (finally!) on the Unit 1 assessment and the isotopes quiz.


Wednesday, 25 October

In class

  1. Finish work on the case study.
  2. Whiteboard problem set: electromagnetic radiation calculations.
  3. Measuring the wavelengths in the spectrum of hydrogen.

Light has properties of waves.

Monday, 23 October

In class

  1. Isotopes short-form assessment.
  2. Continue work on the case study:
    • Stage 1: What Would an Answer to this Question Look Like? (10 min)
    • Stage 2: Examine the Data (15 min)
    • Stage 3: Make a Detailed Plan (10 min)
    • Stage 4: Crunch the Numbers (20 min)
    • Stage 5: Reflect on the Calculations (5 min)

Assignments

  1. Complete sections 7.1 and 7.2 in cK-12 before the start of class on Wednesday.
A mass spectrum taken of a sample of the element magnesium produces three peaks, one for each of the three stable isotopes.

Thursday, 19 October

In class

  1. Discuss exercises 21, 23, and 25.
  2. Case Study: Is it a Meteorite?

Assignments

  1. Review the material on isotopes for a quiz on Monday. The Isotopes problem set (answer key now posted) given out last class is a good resource for your review. As always, you are allowed a note sheet.
  2. Finish the three questions on p. 2 of the case study before class if you didn’t do so in class today.
An estimated 500 meteorites hit Earth each year. Luckily, nothing this large.

Tuesday, 17 October

In class

  1. Warm up: atomic structure.
  2. Discuss the alpha scattering experiment.
  3. Are all atoms of an element alike?
    • Isotopes

Assignments

  1. Complete exercises 21, 23, and 25 from Chapter 2 in the Chemistry: Atoms First book before the start of next class. Section 2.3 may be good review if you need help answering these three problems.
The three isotopes of hydrogen.

Friday, 13 October

In class

  1. How do we know about the structure of atoms?
  2. Whiteboard problem set.

Assignments

  1. Complete the reading and practice exercises for section 6.12 in cK-12 before the start of next class.
Seeing the unseen

Wednesday, 11 October

In class

  1. Unit 1 assessment.

Assignments

  1. Read section 6.1 and 6.4 – 6.8 in cK-12 before class on Friday.

Friday, 6 October

In class

  1. Atomos and the Greeks: Can something be indivisible?
  2. Just how small is an atom?
  3. Atomic spectrum of hydrogen
  4. Review for the Unit 1 exam.

Assignments

  1. Make your note sheet and review for the Unit 1 assessment next class.
The planetary model of the atom is now well over 100 years old! We will bring the model of the atom current during this unit.