Chemistry, atoms, ions, bonds / principles and exploration
Atoms and isotopes — principles and investigation
How will the name and charge of the atom change if you change the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons? This is an experiment to classify ion charges according to the atomic number, mass number of nucleus, and number of electrons that determine the element. Create your own isotopes of the same element and ions with different charges and compare them.
How does it work?
Neutrons change isotopes, and electrons change ion charges. Elements are determined by the number of protons.
Z = p · A = p + n · Charge = p − e
Try this investigation
- You can select the first 10 elements with the target button. Change the particle slider and run it to check the nuclear and electron model.
- Keep 6 protons and 6 electrons, and execute and record 6 and 8 neutrons, respectively.
- Change C-12 to 5 electrons and record N-14 separately. Distinguish between electron changes and proton changes.
Interpreting your results
Why are C-12 and C-14 the same element?
Elements are determined by the number of protons. Isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Assumptions and limitations
It's a particle counting model. The electron shell is an introductory schematic diagram and is not the actual circular orbit of an electron. Nucleus size and particle size are not proportional. Nuclear stability, decay, and electron configuration energies are not calculated.