Contextualization

Everything we know in the universe, from the air we breathe to the technological devices we use, is made up of atoms. The atom is the smallest particle that still characterizes a chemical element. Inside an atom, we have protons, neutrons, and electrons, each with its own functions and characteristics. While protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus of the atom, electrons orbit around this nucleus.

Ions are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost electrons, thus acquiring an electric charge. Positive ions or cations are those that have lost electrons, while negative ions or anions are those that have gained electrons. Understanding the structure of the atom and the ion is fundamental to understanding Chemistry, as it is from these tiny particles that chemical reactions occur, so present in our daily lives.

In our daily lives, we use atoms and ions of various types without even realizing it. When we turn on a light, we exchange ions within the electrical wires. When eating something salty, we are ingesting sodium chloride, where sodium (Na) is in the form of a cation and chlorine (Cl) in the form of an anion. In cleaning products, such as soap, there are molecules called surfactants, which have a polar part (with charge) and a non-polar part (without charge), enabling the cleaning of fats. Therefore, understanding the structure of the atom and what an ion is, is crucial to understanding the world around us.

To delve deeper into the topic, I recommend the following resources:

• Book "Chemistry: The Central Science" by Brown, LeMay, and Bursten. Here, you will find a detailed explanation of the structure of the atom and ions.

• Videos from the Manual do Mundo channel on YouTube, which bring experiments and explanations about various Chemistry topics, including atoms and ions.

• The Brasil Escola website also has a section dedicated to Chemistry, where you can learn more about the topic.

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Practical Activity: Atoms, Ions, and the Periodic Table - A Journey through the Microscopic World

Project Objective:

This project aims to reinforce the understanding of the structure of atoms, ions, and how they are organized in the Periodic Table. Students will learn, in a playful and collaborative way, to differentiate the types of ions, relating theoretical information with practice.

Detailed Project Description:

In this activity, students will create a three-dimensional model of an atom, representing its main parts. Subsequently, they will transform this atom into an ion, demonstrating how the loss or gain of electrons occurs. To conclude, they will create a conceptual map about the chosen atom and ion, where they should insert information found in the Periodic Table.

This project is intended to be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students and has an estimated duration of 3 hours per student.

Necessary Materials:

• Styrofoam balls of different sizes
• Toothpicks
• Acrylic paint of different colors
• Cardboard
• Colored pens
• A3 paper
• Textbooks and/or internet access for research

Detailed Step-by-Step for the Activity:

1. Choose an element from the Periodic Table to represent. Remember to choose an element that has ions, as it will be necessary for the second part of the project.

2. Use the styrofoam balls to represent the nucleus of the atom (protons and neutrons) and the electrons. Use different sizes to differentiate the particles. The toothpicks will serve to fix the particles.

3. Paint the particles in different colors to identify them: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

4. Create the electronic layers (energy levels) around the nucleus using the cardboard. Fix the electrons in these layers.

5. Now, transform your atom into an ion. If your atom loses electrons, it will become a cation. If it gains, an anion. Represent this change in your model.

6. To conclude the practical part, make a conceptual map on A3 paper about your atom and the corresponding ion. It should include information such as atomic number, mass number, ion charge, location in the Periodic Table, and a practical application of this ion in daily life.

Project Deliverables:

At the end of the project, each group should deliver:

1. The model of the atom and its corresponding ion.

2. The conceptual map about the chosen atom and ion.

3. A written report containing the four main topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

In the written report, in the "Introduction" topic, students should contextualize the theme, explain the relevance of atoms and ions in daily life, and the objective of the project.

In the "Development" section, they should explain the theory behind atoms and ions, give details of the model assembly and the conceptual map, the methodology used, and discuss the results obtained.

In the "Conclusion", it is expected that students will revisit the main points of the work, reflecting on what they learned about atoms, ions, and teamwork.

In the "Bibliography", all sources used during the research and project execution should be indicated.

These deliverables together will allow students to concretize and communicate their understanding of the atom and ions, as well as develop teamwork, time management, communication, and creative thinking skills.