Thursday, October 20, 2011

Atom Simulation

What happens when you add a proton?
When you add a proton you get hydrogen and when you add a proton to a atom it is stable. 

What does it mean when an atom is stable? What does it mean when atom is unstable?
When the atom can hold its nucleus together it becomes stable. This includes the protons,electrons and the neutrons. Unstable atoms are always radioactive. They cannot hold all their parts together and make radiation. 


How do you make an atom stable? What do you need to do?
When you add or subtract a number of protons depending on how much the atom has it makes the atom stable. If you have the same amount of neutrons and protons, it is the easiest way to stabilize an atom. There are also some exceptions in the periodic table. Examples are from the noble gasses. 


What is the valence electron pattern as you move across the periodic table?
The electrons placed in the outer shell of an atom is called its valence electrons. Valence electrons can be a part of another atom or can be shared with another atom. The valence electron for each period starts from 1 and ends at 7. After three can also be a -4,-3,-2 and -1.


What happens to the atom when there is more protons, more neutrons, or more electrons?
In helium nothing happens, but normally atoms turn to be unstable. 


What's the difference between a positive and a negative ion?
When an atom or an element looses/gains an electron ions are formed. Ions have a positive charge when it looses and electron because in that case the number of protons would be bigger than the number of electrons. If the positive happens an ion becomes negatively charged. 



Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Reflection on Silly Puddy

Last class we made a silly putty from glue, water, baking soda and an acid. We had a plastic cup and for this assignment I worked with Philipp because than we could both but the amount times two on one cup so it was bigger. When we started putting an amount of all these things it was very wet and you could stir easily. We wanted it to be hard so put more acid than in the procedure, but it still didn't work. At the end our silly putty was big but it didn't work out that good, but it was still a lot of fun.