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Exploring Atomic Orbitals across the Periodic Table
Exploring the Table
Reopen the periodic table (click here), if you closed it.
Task 1. Periods One and Two of the Periodic Table.
Explore the first two horizontal rows of the periodic table. These rows are called the first two periods.
1. Start at H (Hydrogen) then go to He (Helium). This is the first period.
2. Continue on to Li (Lithium) all the way to Ne (Neon). This is the second period of the table.
a. Look carefully at the number electrons in each of the orbitals .
b. Extend your viewing to one element past Neon (Ne) to Sodium (Na)
of interesting orbitals for your report on the activity. (HOW?)
Be sure to record which energy level and which orbital (s or p) and you are viewing.
Task 2. Different Shapes for Electron Orbitals
Each energy level in an atom has a different number of electon orbitals.
Level One has only one spherical orbital. It is called the s orbital.
Level Two has two different orbitals each with a different shape. It has one s orbital and three p orbitals.
Observe carefully the second horizontal row, the second period in the periodic table.
of some p orbitals for your report on the activity.
Be sure to record which atom and which energy level you are viewing in the snap shot.
View in the second row of elements from B Boron, to C carbon, to N Nitrogen, to O Oxygen, to Fl Fluorine, to Ne Neon.
For each element there is one electon added to the orbitals of the atoms than the previous atom.
Task 3. Comparing sizes of the atoms.
Remember the atom is held together electrostatic forces. The nucleus is positive.
Electrons are negative.
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What patterns do you observe as you view the elements starting from Hydrogen, then Helium, then Lithium all the way to Neon?
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How many electrons can an <i>s</i> orbital hold?
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How many electrons can a <i>p </i>orbital hold?
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Please describe how the <i>p</i> obital fills up one electron at a time. How do the shapes of the orbitals change?
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Look at every element of the second row. Can you see any pattern in the size of the atom as there are more protons in the nucleus?
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Can you suggest any possible explanation for the pattern in size of atoms?
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