Module 3: Atoms, Elements, and Molecules
Before continuing, please take the pre-test.
The Exploring Florida Science modules are designed to help teachers improve their content knowledge and more effectively communicate science concepts to their students. The modules focus on technology-rich science content and teaching materials that allow educators to simultaneously address multiple strands in the Sunshine State Standards for Science. Suggested lesson plans offer ideas for how teachers can incorporate these concepts in their classrooms.
Chemistry is the science addressing the composition and properties of matter, along with the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions. Chemistry is a central science which joins together physics, biology, math, and environmental sciences. The application of chemical principles allows us to meet our basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health, energy, clean air, clean water, and clean soil.
Contents
To link the content links place a named anchor tag around the Header you wish to link to. For example:Item 1
-->Scientist’s StoryBack to top
The Scientist’s Story feature of this module shows how the featured scientists became interested in careers in science. The featured scientists for this module are Jonathan Merten and Aubrey Dyer, both of whom are graduate students in chemistry at the University of Florida. If desired, this feature can be projected in the classroom.
Content and LessonsBack to top
This module presents detailed lessons about the following four topics in chemistry: Atomic Theory, Chemical Compounds, Stoichiometry, and Chemical Periodicity. Teachers will be guided through the material and have frequent opportunities to check their understanding. Interactive animations are also provided to illustrate concepts. Instructions for navigating these pages are found at the beginning of the Atomic Theory chapter.
1. Atomic Theory - Historical Models of the Atom, Chemical Symbols, Moles
This lesson combines history with chemistry to teach about how our understanding of the atom has changed over the years. Find out about Dalton's Atomic Theory, Thomson's charge/mass experiment, Millikan's Oil Drop Experiment, the "Plum Pudding" model of the atom, and Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment. The concepts of isotopes, atomic mass, and moles are also explained.
2. Chemical Compounds - Formulas, Percent Composition, and Naming
Lesson 2 explores the nature of chemical compounds and formulas. What makes a metal different from a nonmetal? What is the difference between ionic and covalent compounds? What are oxidation numbers? How are chemical compounds named?
3. Stoichiometry - Balancing Equations, Reactions, Yields
The word "stoichiometry" comes from the Greek language and means "measuring the parts or the elements." This lesson explains how to balance chemical equations, how to predict which reagent will be limiting, and how to predict percent yields of a reaction. The behavior of solutions is explored as well.
4. Chemical Periodicity - Electron Orbitals, Atomic Sizes
Lesson 4 unlocks the mysteries of the periodic table. The patterns found within the table are defined in terms of orbital energies and electron configurations. Atomic sizes, ionization energies, and electron affinities all have predictable patterns across the rows and columns of the periodic table.
External Resources and Web Sites
A variety of chemistry-related web sites and other external resources have been identified. To access these resources, click here. To see external hands-on activities and experiments, click here. These web sites and resources are stored using del.icio.us, a social bookmarking website.
Digital ResourcesBack to top
Clip Art
Every item comes with a choice of image size and format as well as complete source information for proper citations in school projects. A friendly license allows teachers and students to use up to 50 items in a single, non-commercial project without further permission.
- Thermometers
- Chemistry Lab - Apparatus
- Barometer
- Chemistry Concepts & Lab Experiments
- Chemical Elements
- Minerals and Crystals
Photos
FCAT ConnectionsBack to top
These pdf files contain multiple-choice FCAT practice questions related to the content of this module. Question sets are targeted for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
Grades 6-8
Available for teachers: [FCAT questions pdf] Available for students: [FCAT questions pdf]
Grades 9-12
Available for teachers: [FCAT questions pdf] Available for students: [FCAT questions pdf]
Sunshine State StandardsBack to top
The Atoms, Elements, and Molecules module focuses on topics fundamental to the study of chemistry. Lists of the 1996 standards with benchmarks are provided as PDF files. The standards listed here include the original 1996 standards and the new 2008 standards.
Grades 9-12 (1996 Standards)
The 1996 Sunshine State Standards for grades 9-12 are available as a PDF to view, download, or print.
- Strand A: The Nature of Matter
- Standard 1 - The student understands that all matter has observable, measurable properties. (SC.A.1.4): BM 1-5
- Standard 2 - The student understands the basic principles of atomic theory. (SC.A.2.4): BM 1-6
- Strand B: Energy
- Standard 1 - The student recognizes that energy may be changed in form with varying efficiency. (SC.B.1.4): BM 2, 3, 6
- Standard 2 - The student understands the interaction of matter and energy. (SC.B.2.4): BM 1
- Strand G: How Living Things Interact With Their Environment
- Standard 1 - The student understands the competitive, interdependent, cyclic nature of living things in the environment. (SC.G.1.4): BM 3
- Strand H: The Nature of Science
- Standard 1 - The student uses the scientific processes and habits of mind to solve problems. (SC.H.1.4): BM 1-7
- Standard 3 - The student understands that science, technology and society are interwoven and interdependent. (SC.H.3.4): BM 1, 3
Grades 9-12 (2008 Standards)
- Nature of Science
- Standard 1 - The Practice of Science SC.912.N.1.1 - 1.7
- Standard 2 - Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge SC.912.N.2.4, 2.5
- Standard 3 - The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses and Models SC.912.N.3.1 - 3.5
- Standard 4 - Science and Society SC.912.N.4.1
- Earth/Space Science
- Standard 5 - Earth in Space and Time SC.912.E.5.6
- Physical Science
- Standard 8 - Matter SC.912.P.8.2 - 8.10
- Life Science
- Standard 18 - Matter and Energy Transformations SC.912.L.18.11, 18.12
MisconceptionsBack to top
The relationship among subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, and compounds is confusing for some students when they begin to study chemistry. Misconceptions or alternative conceptions are beliefs that are not scientifically accurate. The teacher’s roles include identifying misconceptions and then creating experiences in which students can explore their own ideas and adopt the correct concepts. Students may have one or more of the following misconceptions about the subject of chemistry. These misconceptions could be used as a starting point for classroom discussion.
- Atmospheric gas is mostly oxygen. (Even though they have been taught at some point that most of the air is actually nitrogen, the fact does not register very long for most students. "Air" is essentially oxygen to students.)
- Particles in a solid do not move. (Most students are not aware of "absolute zero". They think the reason something is solid is because the atoms are not moving.)
- Light objects float, heavy objects sink. (It's all about mass to most students, balloons float if they are lighter than air and corks float on water because they are lighter than the water. To them it has nothing to do with density or surface area.)
- Elements are placed on the Periodic Table in the order they were discovered.
- Radioactive decay has something to do with atoms rotting and giving off stuff.
- Chemical reactions are irreversible.
- All of the following concepts are equivalent: density, heaviness, mass, volume, and weight.
- Element, compound, mixture, and atom are all words that mean the same thing.
Now that you've finished you can take the post-test to evaluate your progress.