Visayas Christian Institute of Technology Inc.

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE 12
Quarter 1, Week 2

Explain how the concept of atomic number led to the synthesis of new
elements in the Laboratory (S11/12PS-IIIB-11)

General Reminders:
1. Please handle this learning activity sheet (LAS) with care.
2. Use attached answer sheet in writing your answers.
3. Follow IATF Health Protocols when returning and or getting LAS.

Explore

Direction: Identify the key term referred in each statement. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

__________1. The sum of the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an
atom.
__________2. It refers to the number of protons in the nucleus of an element.

__________3. A devise used in increasing the electrically charged atomic particle.

__________4. It is the first ever man-made element developed.

__________5. A particle that consists of proton and neutron in synthesizing element

in cyclotron.

Learn

What is the essential role of atomic number in creating new elements?

The atomic number and mass number
The X-ray spectroscopy of Henry Moseley, an English physicist played a significant
development in determining the atomic number of the elements. In his experiment,
the different beam of electrons bombarded with other elements produced varying
frequencies of x-ray spectral lines. He measured and concluded that these
frequencies revealed by the elements in his worked were similar location in the
periodic table of elements. Therefore, he assigned these frequencies as the atomic
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number of each element. The atomic number indicates the number of protons
found in the nucleus of each element. It also serves as the identity of an atom.

In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. Thus,
atomic number is equal to the number of electrons in a neutral atom. For instance,
aluminum has an atomic number of 13, meaning each neutral atom of aluminum
has 13 protons and 13 electrons. In general, the acceptable representation of
atomic number is this symbol, capital Z. The total number of neutrons and protons
in the nucleus of an atom referred mass number. The mass number represents by
this symbol, capital A.

X
Where:

X is element symbol
A is the mass number
Z is the atomic number
Mass number (A) = number of protons (p+) + number of neutrons (n 0)
= Atomic number (Z) + number of neutrons (n 0) Atomic
number (Z) = number of protons (p+) = number of electrons (e-)
Number of neutrons (n0) = Mass number (A) - number of protons (p+)

Note:
Protons are positive charge, electrons are negative charge and neutrons are neutral
or no charge.
Let us try this
Fill in what is missing in the ZApen table.

Element
Z A (p+) (e-) (n0)
Symbol

Mg 12 24 12 12 12
Al 13 27 13 13 14

For Mg:

Z is 12, = #p+ and #e- which is 12

no = A - p+

= 24 – 12

= 12

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For Al: p+ is 13 = A and #e- which is 13

A = p + no

= 13 + 14
= 27
The synthesis of new elements

Most of the elements are found naturally, but there are some elements can be
produced in the laboratories. The scientists used particle accelerator to synthesize
new synthetic elements. The particle accelerator is a device used to speed up the
electrically charged atomic particles or subatomic particles by using magnetic and
electrical fields.

In 1930, the element 92, Uranium was the heaviest element discovered at that
time. The eagerness of scientists to study and discover the behavior and
characteristics of the elements challenged them to create new elements. By the year
1937, Ernest Lawrence used linear particle accelerator in creating element 43 by
bombarding the atoms of molybdenum with atomic number 42 with fast moving
electrons. He named this element 43 as Technetium. The first man-made element.

In 1940, the element astatine with atomic number 85 is synthesized by the

collaboration of three great scientists, Emilio Segre, Kenneth Mackenzie and Dale
Corson by bombarding the atoms of element bismuth with atomic number 83 using
the fast moving alpha particle. In the same year, Edwin McMillan used particle
accelerator to bombard uranium with neutrons that led him to discover the element
with atomic number 93. He called it neptunium. In the late 1940, the four
scientists namely, Glenn Seaborg, Edwin McMillan, Joseph Kennedy and Arthur
Wahl synthesized element 94 by bombarding the uranium with deuterons in the
cyclotron. The cyclotron is a particle accelerator used in alternating electric field to
accelerate particles that move in a spiral path in the presence of a magnetic field.
The deuterons are particles made of a proton and a neutron. They named the
element 94 to plutonium. In the periodic table of elements, elements with atomic
number higher than 92 are belong to the group or family of transuranium
elements. Since, elements neptunium and plutonium have atomic number 93 and
94 respectively are grouped in the family of transuranium elements. These
elements are unstable and radioactively decay into other elements. The
transuranium elements are created using nuclear reactors or particle accelerators.
The particle accelerators are used to create new elements in the laboratory. These
elements are synthesized in the laboratory and considered as synthetic elements.

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 Engage

Activity 1
Direction: Fill in what is missing in the ZA pen table. Use a separate sheet of
paper for your answer.

Element
Z A (p+) (e) (n0)
Symbol

Ar 18 40

O 8 8

N 7 7

P 15 25

Bi 83 126

Be 4 9

Mo 42 54

Activity 2

Direction: Match the term in Column A to Column B. Use a separate sheet of

paper for your answer.

A B

_____1. Transuranium elements a. Fast moving alpha particle.

_____2. Ernest Lawrence b. Plutonium.

_____3. Dale Corson et.,al. c. Heaviest element.

_____4. Glenn Seaborg et.,al. d. Unstable and decay

radioactively
_____5. Uranium e. Linear Particle accelerator

Activity 3
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Direction: Using the periodic table of elements. Determine the atomic number and
predict the name of element and element symbol from the given number of
electrons. Use a separate sheet of paper for your answer.

Number of
Atomic Number Element name Element symbol
electrons
29
30
19
14
26

Apply

Directions: Multiple Choice. Read and analyze each question. Write the letter that
corresponds to your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. The atomic number is based from the number of__________.

a. protons and electrons in the c. electrons and neutrons in the
atom’s nucleus. atom’s nucleus.
b. protons in the atom’s nucleus d. electrons in the atom’s nucleus.
2. The mass number of an element is determined by________.
a. the number of protons in the c. the number of electrons in the nucleus.
nucleus.
b. the number of protons and d. the number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus. electrons in the nucleus.
3. The atomic number is equal to the number of ______.
a. electrons and neutrons c. protons and electrons
b. protons and neutrons d. mass number and electrons
4. The atomic number of lithium is 3, how many numbers of protons and electrons
will the lithium have?
a. 3 protons and 6 electrons c. 2 protons and 1 electron
b. 1 proton and 2 electrons d. 3 protons and 3 electrons
5. The mass number of magnesium is 24, therefore, magnesium atom has______.
a. 12 protons and 12 electrons c. 12 protons and 12 neutrons
b. 12 electrons and 12 neutrons d. 24 protons and 0 neutrons
6. The element technetium has an atomic number of_______.
a. 43 c. 93
b. 45 d. 94
7. What is the element discovered by Edwin McMillan?
a. Technetium c. Neptunium
b. Plutonium d. Uranium
8. The particle accelerator is used to synthesize new elements, which of the
following pairs is the correct match?
a. Linear particle accelerator to c. Cyclotron particle accelerator

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 technetium to uranium
b. Fast moving alpha particle to d. Chemical particle accelerator
plutonium to neptunium
9. A particle that is composed of a proton and neutron.
a. Cyclotron c. Deuteron
b. Dendeteron d. Celeron
10.Which of the following elements is belong to the family of transuranium
elements?
a. Carbon c. Molybdenum
b. Technetium d. Plutonium

Prepared by:

RUEL L. RINCONADA55
Teacher

Checked and Reviewed by:

EVELINA T. AUSTERO Ma, Ed.

School Principal

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