Laboratory Report 1.

 Atomic Structure: Assess the possibility of life on other planets

I. Objectives

a) Explain the concept of an atom

b) Explain the properties of the basic subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and
electrons
c) Define the atomic number and atomic mass
d) Define isotopes
e) Understand the basics of the quantum atomic model and describe the significance
of the four quantum numbers

II. Introduction

Atoms are the smallest units of matter and are the basic building blocks of ordinary
matter. There are three subatomic particles in an atom, which are protons, electrons, and
neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a
negative charge. Calculating its atomic mass and atomic number can be easily achieved
by knowing the three subatomic particles. Each of these is crucially important in
identifying elements. Identifying an element always helps scientists understand the whys,
hows, and whats of a particular sample. One example of it is searching for signs of life on
an exoplanet. Scientists collect rock samples from the exoplanet and study them in a
laboratory. In which they will follow strict methods when observing or experimenting
with the samples. One of its first methods is to identify potential chemical interactions,
atmospheres, bulk compositions, and orbital properties. Another way to identify or
observe complex atoms is by using the quantum atomic model. This model can be used to
describe the behavior of an electron in an atom by identifying the orbital it uses. Quantum
numbers are used in this model to describe the characteristics of electrons in their
orbitals. There are four quantum numbers, which are: principal quantum number (n),
angular momentum quantum number (l), magnetic quantum number (m), and spin
quantum number (s). These four numbers describe the quantum mechanical model of an
atom; they provide information regarding the orbitals, which are regions in space
occupied by electrons, and they provide the identity of an electron, like how and where it
moves.
III. Materials and Procedure

Materials/Equipment:

 Lab coat
 Gloves
 Atomic Builder challenge
 Rock on exoplanet
 Bowl
 Periodic table
 Pipette
 Pipette tips
 Acetic acid

Procedure:
1) Before the group entered the laboratory, they made sure to put on the safety gear
to prevent danger during the experiment.
2) After they entered the laboratory, they went to the atomic builder challenge to start
learning about the basic building blocks of atoms.
3) In the atomic builder challenge, they created an atom with an atomic number equal
to 2. They inserted the 2 blue balls, which are the electrons on the left and below
of the orbitals. Next are the 2 red balls, which are protons, and are inserted in the
middle of the orbitals. The last thing are the 2 yellow balls, which are the neutrons,
and they put them in the upper protons and pressed the submit button.
4) The group pressed the right holo-table to proceed to the next challenge.

5) They also created an atom with a mass number of 3. They inserted the orbitals
with 3 electrons, 3 protons, and 3 neutrons, and they pressed the submit button to
proceed.
6) After the mass number of 3, they pressed the next button for another challenge.
Which is, they need to turn the atom they created into a cation. The group removed
1 electron to turn the atom into a cation. 
7) After they learned the basic building blocks, the group proceeded to an exoplanet
to collect a rock sample.
8) Next, They went to the workbench and left the rock in the bowl. 
9) After leaving the rock, The first thing they did was identify the elements in the
rocks they brought.
 10) They went to the wall to see the large periodic table and learned some information
they needed to describe the elements on the rock.
11) After they identified the elements, the group went to the atomic builder chart and
started to build the isotopes.
12) They removed the 1 neutron in the orbitals to create an isotope and pressed the
submit button to proceed.
13) The next challenge is that they converted the isotopes into anion by adding one
electron in orbitals and then allowed them to proceed.
14) They went back to the workbench and learned about the four numbers that
describe the quantum mechanical model of an atom. 
15) After in four number quantum, they proceed in the quantum model to see the
quantum orbitals.
16) After that they learned all the information they procced on the rock sample.
17) Lastly, they used the pipette to collect some acetic acid and put it on the white
rock, then put the pipette back in the stand.

IV. Data and Results

Atom and the subatomic particles

The researchers identified the subatomic particles of an atom, which were protons,
neutrons, and electrons. The first task of the researchers was to create an atom with
anatomic number equal to 2, and the outcome was helium. The researcher created an
isotope by adding 3 protons, 1 neutron, and 3 electrons. Then the researcher was tasked
with making the isotope an anion by adding 1 electron.

Exoplanet Rocks

The researcher was able to identify the elements in the rocks that would help to know
if there was any sign of life. The advanced analytical machinery had found 12 protons,
which were the first elements of rock, magnesium. The second element present in the
rock had 26 protons but only 23 electrons that the researcher determined were a cation of
iron. The third and fourth elements were aluminum and potassium.

Life on the Exoplanet

The researcher found out the color of the red rock was the result of the iron oxidation,
then the researcher put some acetic acid on the white rocks, the acid released a carbon
dioxide gas as the white rocks contain carbonates. The presence of carbonates was liquid
water that cloud be evidence of possible life in the exoplanet.

V. Discussion

Atoms and the subatomic particles

The person performing the experiment confirmed that an atom consists of protons
and neutrons located in the nucleus and electrons that orbit the nucleus. He then proceeds
to build a random atom that contains two protons in the nucleus, and since the charge is
neutral, it also contains two electrons. Afterwards, he started changing the atom, and
these changes resulted in the atom's having a mass number equal to 3, meaning that there
should be a sum of 3 neutrons and protons in the nucleus. There should be either 2
protons and 1 neutron, or 1 proton and 2 neutrons, present in the nucleus. He knew that
the charge of the atom is neutral, so he made sure that there were as many electrons as
protons in the atom. He then proceeds to identify the atomic number of the atom, which
describes the number of protons in the nucleus.

Exoplanet Rocks

The three main types of particles that make up atoms are electrons, protons, and
neutrons. Electrons do not consist of smaller particles, unlike protons and neutrons,
which consist of smaller and simpler particles. Electrons are a type of fundamental
particle called leptons. All leptons have an electric charge of -1 or 0. Electrons are found
outside the nucleus, whereas protons and neutrons are located inside the nucleus at the
center of the atom. Protons have a positive electrical charge of one (+1) and a mass of
one atomic mass unit, which is about 1.671027 kilograms. Together with neutrons, they
make up virtually all of the mass of an atom. Neutrons can be found in almost all atoms
of elements, except for most atoms of hydrogen. Neutrons have no charge; they are
electrically neutral. That's why the neutrons in the diagram above are labeled "n0." The
zero stands for "zero charge." The mass of a neutron is slightly greater than the mass of a
proton, which is 1 atomic mass unit (amu). (An atomic mass unit equals about 1.671027
kilograms.) A neutron also has about the same diameter as a proton, or 1.7 1015 meters.

The person conducting the experiment collected rocks for a sample. These samples
are composed of elements; each element contains only one type of atom. He then
proceeds to identify the elements that are present in the samples. This would help to
assess if life on the planet that the samples came from is, or ever was, possible. He
identified that the sample rock has 12 protons and the element with an atomic number of
12 is magnesium. An atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus.
And since the atom of magnesium has a neutral charge, the number of positively charged
particles should be the same as the number of negatively charged ones. He then identified
the second element, which has 25 protons but only 23 electrons. It is a cation of iron and
could be from ferric oxide. The presence of iron at such a high oxidation number could
suggest the presence of oxygen in the atmosphere. He then found the third element that
the samples contain. It is aluminum, which contains 14 neutrons. He also found the last
element from the sample; it is potassium, which contains 19 protons.

Life on the Exoplanet

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. The
number of protons in the nucleus remains the same. Therefore, even though the mass
number may differ, the atomic number remains the same for all isotopes. The person
doing the experiment learned that isotopes are important for understanding the evolution
of certain planets. An example of this is the different patterns of xenon and krypton
isotopes on the surface of Mars. This gives valuable insights to scientists about the
reactions in the crust of the planet. He also learned that isotopes of uranium can be
analyzed to reveal the age of rock. As well as in the field of medicine, isotopes of various
atoms are used for imaging techniques, diagnosing, and even treating cancer. He then
proceeds to check the structure of lithium and build its isotopes using the correct number
of subatomic particles.

The person conducting the experiment identified that the quantum theory describes
the atomic model, specifically the complex shapes of orbitals, also known as electron
clouds. These are the volumes of space in which there is likely to be an electron. He then
proceeds to learn about the four quantum numbers that describe the quantum mechanical
model of an atom. The four numbers provide the identity of an electron: how and where it
moves. The principal quantum number, n, describes the energy of an electron and the
most probable distance of the electron from the nucleus. The angular momentum
quantum number, l, is the quantum number associated with the angular momentum of an
atomic electron. The angular momentum quantum number determines the shape of the
electron's orbital. The magnetic quantum number specifies the orientation in space of an
orbital of a given energy and shape. The spin quantum number specifies the orientation of
the spin axis of an electron. An electron can spin in only one of two directions
(sometimes called up or down).

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, the Atomic Structure: Assess the Possibility of Life on Other Planets
labster simulation gave us a better understanding of the structure of atoms, their
properties, and building blocks. as well as how subatomic particles work, the protons,
neutrons, and electrons, along with how the charges of an atom will differ from element
to element.

This simulation shows us how you can assess something by identifying the elements it
contains, its structure, and its properties. This information can be a building block to
creating a scientific hypothesis and can motivate us to strive more to learn new things
that can benefit humankind.

The quantum model and four quantum numbers were also discussed. The four
quantum numbers are important because they can be used to determine the electron
configuration of an atom and the probable location of the atom’s electrons. The quantum
numbers can also be used to identify other aspects of an atom, such as the ionization
energy and its atomic radius.

References

[1] https://api2.labster.com/simulation/a0K2X00000jGm8wUAC/

“I accept responsibility for my role in ensuring the integrity of the work submitted by the
group in which I participated.”
Screenshot of the Score

Members:

Bagayas, Kimzy
Dela Cruz, Mary Grace
Fabunan, Mark Kenneth
Suguitan, John Patrick

March 24, 2022