E-Learning: An Introduction to Atoms

The next chapter that we will look at is "The Periodic Table". But, we would need to have some basic knowledge about atoms first. So, I have provided you with links to some videos as well as websites. Our objective is to learn some fundamental things about “Atoms”. I trust that you would have an enjoyable and enriching time in your quest for knowledge. This worksheet provides you some key points that you need to note while watching the videos. Please answer the questions and write or type them down and bring a hard copy of it to class next lesson. We will do a short discussion on it

1) http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/5966-chemistry-of-life-atoms-and-elements-video.htm

a) What are the subatomic particles found in an atom? Where is each of them specifically located in the atom?

2) http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/5808-atomic-structure-atomic-number-video.htm

a) What is “atomic number”?
b) What information(s) do(es) it give us?

3)

a) What are ions?
b) How are ions different from atoms?
c) Why do some atoms have the tendency to form ions?

Enrichment (Optional)

The website below gives us the history of how the idea of atoms came about. Though the atom may seem a little plain and simple in terms of structure, it has a history that dated all the way back to 370 BC! Many people were involved in its discovery, and thanks to them, we have a much better understanding about one of the most important fundamentals of science – the atom.

http://www.neoam.cc.ok.us/~rjones/Pages/online1014/chemistry/chapter_8/pages/history_of_atom.html

Food for thought…

After reading about the history of atoms, what have you learnt about the field of science and discoveries? (You can write a reflection on this)

If you are interested to find out beyond this introductory level about atoms, go ahead and make full good use of the Web or other resources. Nonetheless, you will be learning about “Atomic Structure” in Term 3.

Hope you had a good time of E-Learning!