Science, Technology and Engineering (STE)

Curricular Program

Electronics
Learning Activity Sheets

Learning Competency:
• Define atoms and charges

Learning Objectives:
Specifically, at the end of this learning package you are expected to:
o neatly draw the structure of an atom and label it correctly;
o determine the atomic number (Z), atomic mass (A), number of protons, number of electron,
number of neutrons and charge of an atom; and
o become familiar with the components and structure of the atom.
 P ower up!

In 400 BC, Democritus, a Greek philosopher, was the first person to use the
term atom. It came from a Greek word atomos, meaning indivisible. Grab a piece of
paper and divide it into smaller pieces, so small until you come to a point where you
cannot divide it anymore no matter how hard you try. Now, what you have is an
indivisible pieces/bits of paper. According to Democritus, this fundamental or basic
unit (the indivisible pieces of paper) was called an atom. He believed that everything
in the universe was made up of atoms, which were microscopic and indestructible.

Charge is a physical property that causes matter to experience a force within

an electromagnetic field. In the context of chemistry and physics, charge usually
refers to electric charge which is a conserved property of certain sub-atomic particles
that determines their electromagnetic interaction (Helmenstine, 2019). There are two
types of electric charge: positive (protons) and negative (electrons). Usually, matters
are composed of atoms with zero charge, which means that it has the same number
of electrons in orbit as it has protons in its nucleus thus, it is electrically neutral.

In this module, we focus on defining atoms and charges. Recall your previous
knowledge about atoms, its structure and composition. You will also need to prepare
your periodic table and use some of your science skills such as determining and
predicting the charges of an atom.

Hit the Mark!

Learning Competency:

Define atoms and charges

Objectives:

This module generally aims to define atoms and charges.

Specifically, at the end of this module, you are expected to:
a. neatly draw the structure of an atom and label it correctly;
b. determine the atomic number (Z), atomic mass (A), number of protons,
number of electron, number of neutrons and charge of an atom; and
c. become familiar with the components and structure of the atom.
 Try This!

Fill in the Blank. Read with understanding what is ask in each item and
answer it using the scrambled letters enclosed in parenthesis as your clue.
Write your answer on the blank provided.

1. Everything in the universe (except energy) is made up of __________.

(ETARTM)

2. __________ are the basic building blocks of matter that make up everyday
objects. (OSMTA)

3. The central part of the atom is called __________. (SUELCUN)

4. A subatomic particle with a positive charge is called __________. (TNOPRO)

5. An electron is a __________ charged subatomic particle. (YINAGTVELE)

Keep This in mind!

At present, about 115 different elements have been discovered; each is

chemically unique. That means that they behave differently in forming molecules and
reacting with other elements and molecules. To understand why they are unique,
you need to understand the structure of the atom and the characteristics of these
components.

Atoms are the basic units of matter and the defining structure of elements. It
is the smallest particle of a chemical element that retains its chemical properties. It
consists of a dense nucleus of positively charged protons and electrically neutral
neutrons, surrounded by a much larger electron cloud consisting of negatively
charged electrons. Table 1 below shows the properties of this three subatomic
particles:
 Table 1. Properties of subatomic particles

Symbol Location Mass (kg)

Subatomic Charge amu mass
particle (coulomb, C) (µ)

Proton p +1.6 x 10 -19

inside the nucleus 1.0073 1.6725 x 10 -27

Neutron n 0 or none inside the nucleus 1.0087 1.6749 x 10 -27

Electron e or e- -1.6 x 10 -19 0.0005 (~0) 9.1095 x 10 -31

outside the
nucleus

A standard periodic table of elements can provide you with a great deal of
insight into the composition of an atom. The atomic number (symbol Z) or proton
number is equal to the number of protons found in the nucleus of every atom of a
specific element. It uniquely identifies a chemical element. The mass number
(symbol A) (also called atomic mass number or nucleon number) is equal to the total
number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus. In a neutral atom (stable
atom), the number of protons and electrons are equal. If the number of electrons do
not equal to the number of protons, the atom is charged. Charged atoms or
molecules are called ions. When an atom is in a charged state (ion), the charge
indicates the imbalance between protons and electrons thus, the atom is unstable.
An atom can acquire a positive charge or a negative charge depending on whether
the number of electrons in an atom is greater or less than the number of protons in
the atom. Too many electrons produce a negative charge, too few electrons result in
a positive charge. The charge of an atom is the number of protons minus the
number of electrons.

Number of protons = Number of electrons

Atomic number (Z) = Number of protons

Number of neutrons = Mass number (A) – Atomic number (Z)

Nucleon number = number of protons + number of neutrons

Charge of an atom = number of protons – number of electrons

Example:

Charged
Atomic Mass
Element No. of No. of No. of
number number
name protons neutrons electrons (positive, negative or
(Z) (A)
neutral)

Carbon 6 12 6 6 6 0 – neutral

Oxygen 8 15 8 7 10 - 2 – negatively charged

Cr 24 52 24 28 22 + 2 – positively charged

Activity

Part 1. Complete the chart below by filling in the needed data/information. You may
use a periodic table as your reference.

Element Atomic Mass No. of No. of No. of

name protons neutrons electrons Charged
number number
(Z) (A)
(positive, negative or
neutral)

Barium 81 54

Sodium 12 11

Fluorine 19 1 – negatively charged

-

Ru 101 57 +
3 – positively charge

Br 35
Part 2. Neatly draw the structure and composition of an atom inside the box provided
below and label your drawing properly. Use any drawing materials available (like
pencil, pen, coloring materials, etc.)

Analysis

Guide Questions:

1. What is an atom?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

2. Name the three subatomic particles of an atom, indicate the charge (positive,
negative or neutral) and where it is located
Subatomic particles of an atom Charge Location

a. _______________ _______________ ______________

b. _______________ _______________ ______________

c. _______________ _______________ ______________

3. How to determine the:

a. number of protons _________________________________________

b. number of electrons _________________________________________

c. number of neutrons _________________________________________

 d. atomic number _________________________________________

e. mass number _________________________________________

f. charge of an atom _________________________________________

4. When can you say that an atom is neutral or stable? When is an atom
unstable?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

5. How do charges affect atoms?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Abstraction and Generalization

Atoms, the smallest particles of an element that exhibit the properties of that
element, composed of negatively charged electrons around a central nucleus
composed of more massive positively charged protons and electrically neutral
neutrons. The atom consists of discrete particles that govern its chemical and
physical behavior.

The properties of the subatomic particles shown previously in Table 1

illustrates three important points:

1. electrons and protons have electrical charges that are identical in magnitude
but opposite in sign. No particle with any fractional charge has ever been
discovered although many have tried. For historical reasons having to do with
the earliest studies of electricity we assign charges of −1 and +1 to the
electron and proton, respectively;

2. neutrons have approximately the same mass as protons but no charge. They
are electrically neutral; and

3. the mass of a proton or a neutron is about 1836 times greater than the mass
of an electron. Protons and neutrons constitute by far the bulk of the mass of
atoms.
The number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom can be determined from
a set of simple rules.

• The number of protons in the nucleus of the atom is equal to the atomic
number (Z).

• The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons.

• The mass number of the atom (A) is equal to the sum of the number of
protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

• The number of neutrons is equal to the difference between the mass number
of the atom (A) and the atomic number (Z).

Charge is a physical property. An object can have a positive charge, a negative

charge, or no charge at all. Charged objects exert a force - a push or a pull -
on other charged objects.

Application

1. Why is it important to know/study the structure of an atom? Cite an example of

recent technological advances or application of this concept (such as in the
field of chemistry, medicine, nuclear physics) that is useful in our daily life
activities or in the community or in the world especially in this time that we
are facing this COVID – 19 pandemic.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Reflect

How are atoms used in everyday life?

Atoms are the basic building blocks of ordinary matter. It can join together to form
molecules, which in turn form most of the objects around us. Thus atoms have
multitude of uses and one of which is the water that we use in cooking, drinking,
cleaning, etc. Water is a molecule consists of three atoms: an oxygen atom and two
hydrogen atoms which are bond together. Without water we would not survive. That
is why protecting our water sources is very important. That is the reason why the
government agency like DENR and specifically the CAPENRO launched different
projects, promote and encourage us to plant and restore native trees in our forests.
Are you aware of this CAPENRO projects? Do you participate in this move of our
government? Do you plant trees even in your backyard? Do you conserve and protect
our water?

Give another one example (besides water) on how atoms are used/important in your
everyday life. Explain why it is important/useful and how are you going to protect,
conserve or take good care of it.

Reinforcement and Enrichment

Using the internet, science books or any resources available for

you, research on the history of atom. Look on the works of these
following scientists: Democritus, John Dalton, Dmitri Mendelee v, G.J.
Stoney, E. Goldstein, J.J. Thomson, E. Rutherford, Frederick Soddy, H. G. J. Moseley,
Niels Bohr, James Chadwick.

Guide questions:

a. Who was the first to use the word “atom”?

b. Who discovered electrons? Protons? Neutrons? How did they

discover it?

Assess Your Learning

Read with understanding what is being asked in each item. Choose and
encircle the letter of your best answer.

1. The smallest unit of any element is which of the following?

a. atom b. compound c. molecule d. ion

2. A property of matter where it has more or fewer electrons than protons in its
atom.

a. positively charged b. negatively charged c. neutral d. charge

3. The central portion of an atom is called a(n) __________.

a. protons b. electrons c. neutrons d. nucleus

4. Which is true?

a. The nucleus contains protons and electrons.

b. The mass of an electron is included in the mass of the atom.

c. For an atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.

d. The mass of a nucleus is the same as the mass of the proton.

5. Identify the number of protons, electrons and neutrons of the atom in the
given figure below and answer what is being asked. Write your answer on the
blank provided.

proton/atomic number = __________

electrons = __________ neutrons =

__________

What atom/element is this? __________

Figure 1.

mass number = __________

What is its charge (neutral, positive or negative)? __________

 References and Photo Credits

Silverio, A. A. (2007). Exploring Life Through Science: Physics (pp. 254 - 255)
Science and Technology Textbook for Fourth Year: Physics. SEDP. Revised Edition, 2004. pp.89
– 92 and 118
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Ma
ps/Supplemental_Mo
dules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Atomic_Theory/The_Atom/Sub-
Atomic_Particles#:~:text=The%20positive%20charge%20of%20protons,an%20electr
on%20is%20usuall y%20negligible.
https://www.barcodesinc.com/articles/timeline-on-
atomicstructure.htm#:~:text=400%20B.C.%20Democritus'%20atomic%20theory,indes
tructible%20units%20he
%20called%20atoms.&text=1803%20John%20Dalton%20proposed%20that,from%20
different%20eleme nts%20combined%20together.