Question

In the classroom activity, the teacher instructs students to utilize various materials to simulate the atom's structure. Protons are represented by baseballs, electrons by marbles, and neutrons by tennis balls. What materials will the students need to build a typical sodium atom with an atomic mass of 23?

Answer 1

To simulate a sodium atom (Na) with an atomic mass of 23, students need to accurately represent its subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. A typical sodium atom has:

- **Protons**: 11
- **Neutrons**: 12 (since the atomic mass is approximately equal to the sum of protons and neutrons; 23 - 11 = 12)
- **Electrons**: 11 (a neutral atom has the same number of electrons as protons)

Given the materials specified:

- **Baseballs**: Represent protons, so students will need **11 baseballs** to represent the 11 protons.
- **Tennis balls**: Represent neutrons, so students will need **12 tennis balls** to represent the 12 neutrons.
- **Marbles**: Represent electrons, so students will need **11 marbles** to represent the 11 electrons.

**Summary of materials needed to build a sodium atom:**

- **11 baseballs** (for protons)
- **12 tennis balls** (for neutrons)
- **11 marbles** (for electrons)