The fundamentals of chemistry are based on the atom. Atoms are made up of small particles with electrical charges called protons, neutrons and electrons. The number of charges an atom has determines what type of element the atom is. Most students learn about the structure of the atom in introductory chemistry classes. Making a three-dimensional model of an atom helps to understand its structure. The protons, positive charge, and neutrons, neutral charge, are similar in size and located at the center of the atom in the nucleus. The much smaller, negatively charged electrons are found outside of the nucleus. Electrons are constantly moving around the atom. Most models depict just the nucleus, consisting only of items representing protons and neutrons.
Things You'll Need
Ping-pong balls, two colors
Glue
Periodic table of elements
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Instructions
1
Periodic table of elements.
Decide what type of atom to make a model of. Consult the periodic table of elements to determine how many protons, neutrons and electrons the atom has.
2
Separate the colors of ping-pong balls. Count enough of each color to correspond to the number of protons and neutrons in your atom.
3
Apply glue to one ball. Stick another ball of the opposite color to the first ball. Allow time for the glue to harden.
4
Repeat Step 3 until all the balls are used and the protons and neutrons are represented.