Atom simulator

Atom Simulator  

11/10/2011

Above is  a picture of a Helium atom 

What happens when you add a proton? 

If all of the shells were empty, adding a proton would result in a stable element. That element is called Hydrogen (H). The atomic number changes to 1.  I observed that generally when you add protons to the nucleus, atom becomes unstable. For example when I add one proton to Hydrogen nucleus it becomes unstable Ion of Helium (He).  Usually most stable nuclei have same number of protons and neutrons. Somehow binding energy is stronger in above mentioned case.

What does it mean when an atom is stable?  What does it mean 

when  an atom is unstable?

Because of the electromagnetic field, like charges will repel each other and opposite charges will be attracted towards each other, meaning that protons in nuclei being positively charged will tend to repel each other. But luckily there is a force called the strong force in the nucleus of an atom, and the energy associated with it overcomes the force of repulsion. That energy is called binding energy, which keeps the protons together.  A stable atom is one that has enough binding energy to hold the nucleus together permanently. An unstable atom does not have enough binding energy to hold its nucleus together permanently and is called a radioactive atom.  In most cases elements like to have an equal number of protons and neutrons. However one or two more neutrons will not necessarily make an atom unstable  like in the case of Beryllium, which has four protons and five neutrons in its stable state. If unstable the nucleus will give off energy, causing it to be a radioactive atom. In order to become stable again, in most cases the nucleus will give away its neutrons.

How do you make an atom stable?  What do you need to do? 

To make an atom stable you need to have same number of protons and neutrons.  For example an unstable neutral atom of Lithium, with three protons and two neutrons needs one neutron in order to become stable.  

What is the valence electron pattern as you move across the periodic table?   

After looking at the periodic table of elements I noticed one interesting pattern related to valence electrons. As you go across the periods on the table, you will notice that the number of valence electrons increases. Meaning that the element that is on the start of the period will have the least valence electrons and the one at the end will have the most.  Valence electrons are electrons on the outermost part of the atom. The easiest way of figuring out the number of valence electrons for a certain element is by looking at which group it is in. If its in group 1 it will have 1 valence electron, if it’s in group 4 it will have 4 valence electrons. This doesn’t work for group 0 elements; actually all of those elements except Helium (He) have 8 valence electrons. Helium has 2 valence electrons. Another pattern that I noticed by looking at the periodic table of elements is that elements on the left side become positive ions, which means that they have electrons to give away, and elements on the right side become negative ions, meaning that they will receive electrons. Basically ions form ionic bonds, or electrovalent bonds, in which electrons are traded. The other type of chemical bonds are called covalent in which the electrons are shared.

What happens to the atom when there is more protons, more neutrons, or more electrons? 

As I have mentioned previously adding protons and neutrons to an atom can make it both stable and unstable.  By adding extra protons to already stable element will make it unstable. The some works for neutrons. Adding extra neutrons, as well as taking away neutrons will result in formation of isotopes, which has the same chemical properties but some of them has different physical properties.  Some of these isotopes are radioactive meaning that they radiate energy. They decay, by giving away neutrons, to a more stable form.

What's the difference between a positive and a negative ion?

How do you make a neutral ion (charge of 0)?

Every atom wants to have all of its orbitals or shells filled up to its maximum capacity, therefore some atoms are forced to give away or take atoms from another atom.

Atoms that give away electrons are called positive ions. Example of this would be Sodium (Na), which could give away one electron from it’s outermost shell, that electron is called it’s valence electron.

Atoms that will take in electrons are called negative ions. Example of this would be Chlorine (Cl), which would receive atoms in its outermost shells.

A neutral ion is, ion that has all of it’s already occupied shells filled up, it is what is called a happy atom.