Name: Tyron Golden Class: Physics Date: 12/15/21

Making STABLE Atoms

Purpose: This lab will help concretize the makings of a stable atom. If it is unstable,
it will be radioactive.

Hypothesis:

Procedure
1. Click on the Virtual Lab link to go to lab simulation.
2. Scroll down to the embedded “Build an Atom” phet simulation.

3. Click on the Symbol Button twice.

4. Click the “Stable/Unstable” box.

5. Add protons and neutrons to the nucleus and electrons to the circles. Record
all STABLE combinations in the table and the appropriate periodic table box.
HINT: The number of protons in the nucleus should equal the number of
electrons outside the nucleus.
PROTONS ELECTRONS NEUTRONS MASS SYMBOL
NUMBER

1 1 0 1

2 2 1 3

3 3 3 6

4 4 5 9

5 5 5 10

6 6 6 12

7 7 7 14

8 8 8 16

9 9 10 19
 10 10 10 20

Analysis and Conclusion:

In this lab I have concluded that the amount of protons in the nucleus changes the
identity of the element. For example, when there is 1 proton in the nucleus it makes
the element hydrogen. add one more proton to the mix and you have helium. but
that is not all there is to it. for every proton in the nucleus there must be an electron
outside the nucleus. but that does not mean that the atom is perfectly fine. The
atom's stability is still in question. For example, lithium has 3 protons and 3
electrons but that alone made the atom very unstable. So to make the atom stable
neutrons needed to be added to the nucleus to make the element stable. you cannot
increase the protons to stabilize the element. Doing so would change the identity
completely. the only way to stabilize an atom is to bring neutrons into the system

Created by Jonathan Johnson

for Phet Interactive Simulations