Elements, Ions and Isotopes (9/4-9/8)

https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-4c093d923cef8c8e3752f2f7a7f40450

Summary:

This week, we learned about elements, ions, and isotopes. You have probably heard of the periodic table of elements. Elements are the alphabet to the language of molecules. Another way to think about it is that they are the building blocks to matter.

How can you learn about a specific element by looking at it on the periodic table of elements? There are 4 important properties of an element on the periodic table. The atomic number displays the number of protons. Then, there is the element symbol, which is an abbreviation of the element name. This symbol has no numbers and is never more than two characters. There is the atomic mass or weight, which has the number of protons and neutrons, and finally is the element name, simply the name of the element.

Ions are atoms that have lost or gained electrons. If they have lost electrons, they are called cations. Cations are positive because they have lost electrons, which have a negative charge. Therefore, it becomes positive. Anions are atoms that have gained electrons. This makes them negative because of the negative charge. To determine the change, it is the number of protons - the number of electrons.

Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons. The average atomic mass that is shown in the periodic table is the weighted average of isotopes. Isotopes are used a lot in scientific applications, or resources such as medicine and more.

SP6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

This week, I constructed an explanation of elements, ions, and isotopes when filling out worksheets and watching different videos. This has helped me understand how elements work and use evidence to back up my explanations. I designed different solutions of how elements, ions and isotopes and how they are used by looking at different explanations and understanding what it means. 

XCC: Structure and Function

When an atom has a different amount of electrons, this affects the structure of the atom. This changes the function because there is a different charge. By adding electrons, the function or charge becomes negative. When removing electrons, the charge becomes positive. This relationship between structure and function compares to matter and how the atoms move around because the atoms are causing the matter, or function to change.

Multiplier

This week, I was a wanderer. Whenever I had an idea or found something interesting, I shared it with my group to see what they thought. When we did different activities in class, I learned a lot of new important information. When I figured it out, I shared what I learned. I tried to be an active contributor to the team and share my findings.