Understanding Chemical Bonding
This is a short activity to introduce you to the concept of chemical bonding. In this activity, you will take the number of your birth month as your atomic number. Using this information, you will be able to determine the configuration of your electrons. You will then be able to determine how this atom will interact with other atoms, if at all. You will form “bonds” with your siblings (or friends) to make ions or molecules.
Questions:
1. What is the number of your birth month? (i.e., January = 1, February = 2, etc.) This is your atomic number.
2. Draw your appearance as an atom. Around the nucleus, put the correct number of electrons in their correct valence shells.
3. What type of bond would you like to form to become stable?
4. Use one or more of your siblings (friends) to bond with in order to become stable. Draw the ion or molecule that you all formed.
5. Explain why you are stable in this configuration.
Ok...my birthday is in March, so my atomic number = 3.
I know I have:
3 protons
3 electrons
4 neutrons
So, I am not sure how to draw all of this. Don’t the protons and neutrons go inside the nucleus? How do you figure this out?
Also, in order to become stable, doesn't there have to be an equal number of electrons in the outermost shell? Can you pleasssse help me?
3 answers
3. What type of bond would you like to form to become stable?
4. Use one or more of your siblings (friends) to bond with in order to become stable. Draw the ion or molecule that you all formed.
5. Explain why you are stable in this configuration.
Ok...my birthday is in March, so my atomic number = 3.
I know I have:
3 protons
3 electrons
4 neutrons
So, I am not sure how to draw all of this. Don’t the protons and neutrons go inside the nucleus? How do you figure this out?
Also, in order to become stable, doesn't there have to be an equal number of electrons in the outermost shell? Can you pleasssse help me? Or explain it better to me?
1 answer