Topic: Atom and its Sub-atomic Particles

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Lesson Overview

In the previous lesson, you have learned that matter is made up of atoms which are too small to see with the
unaided eye or even with the use of the ordinary light microscope. When the idea of the atom was conceived by the
ancient Greek philosophers, they thought the atom is indivisible, that has no parts. It is only during the last 200 years
that the modern idea of chemical elements developed, and only in the last 100 years that we have determined that
elements themselves are composed of atoms, which houses protons, neutrons, and electrons.
In this module, you will learn about the basic concepts of atomic structure which includes the particles of atoms.
Moreover, through this module you will learn how to compute the sub-atomic particles when atoms gain or loss
electrons.

B. Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Identify the particles of atom.

2. Determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in a particular atom.
3. Compute the sub-atomic particles when atoms gain or loss electrons.

II. CONCEPT/S TO BE LEARNED

Activity 1: Identify Me!

1. From the given picture below, identify and encircle the sub-atomic particles.

Figure 5.0 A carbon atom

Atom is from the Greek word “atomos” means not to be cut, it is the smallest unit of matter that retains the identity
of the substance. An atom of any element is the smallest particle that still retains the properties of that element. Each element
has its own distinct type of atom, and what causes each type of atom to have its unique properties will now be considered.
It has sub atomic particles; neutron, proton, and electron. Proton and neutron comprise the nucleus of an atom. Atoms are
composed of two (2) regions.

1. NUCLEUS – the center of the atom that contains the mass of the atom.
2. ELECTRON CLOUD REGION – region that surrounds the nucleus that contains most of the space in the atom.

GRADE 8 - SCIENCE MODULE |1

 Figure 5.1 Atom of Helium

Protons have a positive electrical charge, electrons have a negative charge of identical magnitude to the proton, and
neutrons carry no charge. The mass of a proton is slightly less than that of the neutron, while the mass of the electron is
negligible compared with the proton mass. The following table gives the relative charge and mass for each particle.

Characteristics of the Sub-atomic Particles

Protons, Neutrons and Electrons
Charge Mass (amu) Location
Proton +1 1 Nucleus
Neutron 0 1 Nucleus
Electron -1 0 Orbital

Balancing subatomic particles balance

1. In neutral atom; the number of protons and electrons in an element is equal

2. If 20 protons are present in an atom then 20 electron are there to balance the over-all charge of the
atom -- atom are neutral.
3. The neutrons have no charge; therefore they do not have to equal the number of proton or electrons.

Number of subatomic particles in an atom

1. Proton can be identified by the atomic number of an atom or element.

2. Atomic number indicates the number of proton in an atom.
3. In neutral atom, the number of proton is = to the number of electron.
Ex. Oxygen atom: O⁸ has an atomic number of 8, so it has 8 proton
4. Neutron can be identified by subtracting the atomic mass of atom by the number of proton.

o
Atomic number
8

Atomic number 16

Figure 5.2 Atom of Oxygen

So; Oxygen atom has: 8 protons; 8 electrons and 8 neutrons

When atom loss or gain electron/s it became ion. Ion is charged atom which either be:

1. Cation-positively charged ion; it losses electron/s

2. Anion- negatively charged ion; it gains electron/s

In IONIC atom, the number of electrons is NOT equal to the number of proton anymore.

Examples: Oxygen ion = O -2

In this example, oxygen gains 2 electrons since it has a -2 charge. (Note: When atom gains electron it become
negatively charge. The number indicated is the number of electron it gains. When an atom losses electron it become
positively charge. The number indicated is the number of electron it losses). If atom gains electron you add the charge
number to the number of protons. If atom losses electron, you subtract the charge number to the number of protons.

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 Since neutral oxygen has 8 protons, 8 electrons, and 8 neutrons, oxygen ion will have: Then oxygen ion

8
16 o -2

Number of Proton =8
Number of Neutron =8
Mass number =8 (16-8)
Electron = 10 (8+2); the 2 in the charge is added since
oxygen gains electron and the charge is -2.

While the number of protons in the nucleus of a given element’s atoms is fixed, the number of neutrons usually
varies, giving rise to different isotopes of that element. The various isotopes of a given element have identical chemical
properties while their physical properties only differ in those associated with their differing masses.

III. GENERALIZATION

Atoms consist of an extremely small, dense nucleus containing almost all of the mass in the form of protons carrying
a positive electrical charge and neutrons which carry no charge. The mass of an electron is negligible compared with that
of a proton while protons and neutrons have about the same mass. Each element has its own characteristic number of protons
in the nuclei of its atoms, called the atomic number. Atoms of elements are electrically neutral, so the atomic number of a
given element is also the number of electrons in the atoms of that element. While the number of protons in the nucleus of a
given element’s atoms is fixed, the number of neutrons usually varies, giving rise to different isotopes of that element.
However, in Ionic atom the number of electrons is not equal to the number of proton anymore.

REFERENCE:
1. K – 12 Curriculum Science Learners Materials for Grade 8 Learners. DepEd, Philippines
2. K – 12 Alternative Mode of Delivery. DepEd, Philippines
3. Breaking Through Integrated Science. By Corazon N. Felicerta and Letecia B. Pinar. Published by C & E Publishing, Inc. Philippines

IV. WORKSHEET

A. ACTIVITY
Activity 2: Create Short dialogue!

Using the knowledge you gain about atom. Create a short dialogue below that indicate the charges of sub-atomic
particles that you identified in Activity 1. Copy and write the illustration on your activity notebook. (10 points)
Short Dialogue of Forever friends:
Manager Neutron, Atty. Proton, and Rev. Electron
Scene: At the Restaurant owned and manage by neutron

Hi! Atty proton welcome to my

bar. How are you today?
How are you Mr. Rev electron?

Manager Neutron

Atty. Proton Rev. Electron

How much is this drink my
manager friend?

Activity 3: Let’s do it!

Directions: Complete the missing number of each column without using the periodic table. Copy and write the
table on your science activity notebook.

Isotope/ Element/ ion # of proton # of electron # of neutron Mass # Charge

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B-16 Boron 5 11 0

N-14 Nitrogen 7 0
1
F⁻ 9 11

C-12 Carbon 12

Al +3 13 11

Co-60 Cobalt 60 27 33

Sulfur ion 16 18 32
Ba 56 137

B. Answer the following questions below. Write your answer on your science activity notebook.

1-3. Label the parts of an atom on the diagram below.

4. What type of charge does a proton have?

5. What type of charge does a neutron have?

6. What type of charge does an electron have?

7. Which two subatomic particles are located in the nucleus of an atom?

8. What is the charge of an atom?

9. The atomic number tells you the number of _________ in one atom of an element. It also tells you the number of
____________ in a neutral atom of that element. The atomic number gives the “identity” of an element as well as it’s
location on the Periodic table. No two different will have the same ___________.

10. What is the atomic number in the diagram above?

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