Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. On the image at right, the two magnets are the same. Which paper
clip would be harder to remove?
The paper clip would be harder to remove is B.
The thicker the book the low the ability of the magnet to hold and attract paper clips. The less
thickness of the book, the higher the ability for the magnet to attract and hold paper clips.
Name:
Student Exploration: Periodic Trends
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: atomic radius, electron affinity, electron cloud, energy level, group, ion, ionization energy, metal,
nonmetal, nucleus, period, periodic trends, picometer, valence electron
2. Which magnet would be most likely to attract additional paper clips?
3. What is the relationship between the thickness of the book and the ability of the magnet to hold on to and
attract paper clips?
Gizmo Warm-up
Just as the thickness of a book changes how strongly a magnet attracts a paper clip, the
size of an atom determines how strongly the nucleus attracts electrons. In the Periodic
Trends Gizmo, you will explore this relationship and how it affects the properties of
different elements.
The atomic radius is a measure of the size of the electron cloud, or the region where
electrons can be found. To begin, check that H (hydrogen) is selected in Group 1 on the
left. Turn on Show ruler. To measure the radius, drag one end of the ruler to the proton in the nucleus and the
other end to the electron. Click Save radius to record the value.
1. What is the radius of hydrogen?
Notice that the radius is measured in picometers (pm). A picometer is one
trillionth of a meter.
2. On the right side of the Gizmo, select Li. Connect the right side of the ruler to
the outermost electron, or valence electron. What is the radius of lithium?
Date:
Answer
B would be most likely to attract additional paper clips.
The radius of
hydrogen is 53 pm.
The radius of lithium
is167 pm.
