Contextualization

Atomic evolution is an essential topic in physics and chemistry, describing how our understanding of the atom has changed and evolved over time. The atom, one of the smallest parts of an element that still retains the properties of that element, has been the subject of uninterrupted study for thousands of years. Each atomic model proposed throughout history has provided a better understanding of atomic structure and its components, such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Before describing the evolution of the atomic model, it is crucial to have a precise understanding of what an atom is. From an atomistic view of the world, everything that exists is composed of atoms. This is a view that greatly contributes to the science of chemistry. Atomic theory is the scientific basis for chemistry.

Atomic evolution begins with the Greek philosophers, passes through Dalton's model, Thomson's plum pudding model, Rutherford's nuclear model, Bohr's model, and finally reaches the current model, the quantum mechanics model. Each model improved upon the previous one, contributing to our current understanding of atomic nature.

Importance of Atomic Evolution

Understanding this evolution not only gives us a deeper insight into how the world is built, but also allows us to understand how science works - through a series of refinements and improvements as new information is discovered and theories are tested. Without the understanding of the different atomic models, many scientific and technological advances would not have been possible.

For example, the development of semiconductors and microchips, the basis of modern electronic devices, was only possible thanks to our understanding of atomic structure and how atoms interact with each other. Nuclear medicine, used for both diagnosis and treatment, also relies on our understanding of atomic structure.

Practical Activity: Journey Through Time - Atomic Evolution

Project Objective

The objective of this activity is to allow students to understand the main concepts of atomic evolution through investigation, creativity development, and collaborative work. Students will research the different atomic models and create an illustrated timeline representing the evolution of these models.

Project Description

In this activity, student groups (3 to 5 students) will be identified as teams of scientists on a research mission. Each team will have the task of tracing the evolution of atomic models from Ancient Greece to the present day, highlighting the main scientists and their contributions to atomic science.

Required Materials

• Cardboard paper
• Colored pens
• Scissors
• Glue
• Computer with internet access for research
• Science books

Activity Steps

1. Research and Information Gathering: Each team should start the activity by researching the evolution of atomic models. The information should include, but is not limited to, who the main scientists involved were, what the main discoveries were, and how these discoveries shaped our current understanding of atomic structure.

2. Timeline Preparation: After the research, teams should start creating their illustrated timeline on cardboard paper. They should highlight the main events and discoveries on the timeline, as well as the scientists who made these contributions.

3. Timeline Presentation: Once the timeline is complete, each team will have the opportunity to present their work to the class. Each team member should participate in the presentation, explaining a part of the timeline.

4. Written Report: After completing the timeline and the presentation, each team should prepare a detailed report on the project. The report should include an Introduction (contextualizing atomic evolution and its purpose in the project), Development (exploring the research conducted and how the timeline was built), Conclusions (reflecting on what they learned during the project and the main discoveries of atomic evolution), and the Bibliography used.

Project Deliverables

The deliverables for this project include the illustrated timeline, the timeline presentation, and a detailed written report. The report should be written clearly and concisely, with a section dedicated to reflecting on what the students learned during the project. Special attention should be paid to discussing the different atomic theories and how these theories evolved over time.

When writing the report, it is crucial that students not only mention historical events, but also explain the theoretical and practical implications of these discoveries. This means that students should be encouraged to discuss how the discoveries affected the scientific understanding of the time and what the impact of these changes was on society as a whole.