Counting Atoms (10/9-10/13)

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Summary:

This week, we learned how to count atoms in a formula. To count the number of atoms in the molecule, first, you need to figure out how many elements are in the formula. To do this, you know that only the first letter is capitalized in an element and that there is only one letter capitalized. For example, in the common-known molecule H₂O, we know that there are two elements, hydrogen and oxygen because there are two capital letters. 

The first component in the formula for a molecule is a subscript. Subscripts tell you how many atoms are in the element symbol right in front of the subscript. For example, in H₂O, the subscript means that there are two hydrogen atoms. If there is no subscript, it means that there is only one atom in the element. Another component in the formula in the Coefficient. This is the number that goes before the rest of the formula. It also is a bigger number compared to the subscripts. This number applies to the entire molecule, not just the element. If the formula is 2H₂O, this means that there are two water molecules.

Sometimes, there is also parenthesis in the formula. The parenthesis group atoms into polyatomic ions. When you have parenthesis, you multiply the number of atoms of each element in the parenthesis to the number right after. For example, (MnO₄)₂, there are two Mn atoms and there are eight oxygen atoms. For oxygen, we multiplied the number of atoms in the subscript (4) and the number after the parenthesis (2), which makes 8.


Here is an example of Counting Atoms:

3Pb(NO₃)₂
Pb - 3 x 1 = 3
N - 3 x (1 x 2) = 6
O - 3 x (3x 2) = 18

Atom Count: 18 + 6 + 3 = 27 atoms in the molecule

SP6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

This week, I took notes and analyzed the data to construct an explanation of how to count atoms in a molecule. When doing various assignments and packets and collecting more information about the topic, I created my own explanation and solution to how to count the atoms in a molecule and what the different components in the formula mean. This has helped me understand more about the molecule and the atoms that are in each of the elements and what it means.

XCC: Stability and Change

This week, I noticed how the number of electrons in the outer shell of the atom can result in the atom being unstable or stable. In covalent bonding, the atoms share the electrons in the outer shell so that they are stable. If the system is stable, it could become unstable if the atom has fewer electrons in the outer shell then required to be "stable." The number of electrons in the outer shell depends on where the element is placed on the periodic table and how many protons there are. Learning about how the atoms can be stable or unstable and how they can share electrons by becoming a molecule has helped me learn more about why molecules are created and what they are.

Multiplier

This week, I feel like I was an initiator. I investigated when we were completing the assignments and packets so that I could learn more about the topic and understand the topic with a different point of view. Being an initiator has helped me learn more about the topic at a different level by investigating and doing the assignments that we received in class. I started and contributed in conversations with my table group so that we could all ask each other questions and help work on and complete the packets we were assigned.

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