Build an Atom
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            Original Sim and Translations | 
About
Topics
- Atoms
 - Atomic Structure
 - Isotope Symbols
 - Atomic Nuclei
 
Description
Build an atom out of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and see how the element, charge, and mass change. Then play a game to test your ideas!
Sample Learning Goals
- Use the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons to draw a model of the atom, identify the element, and determine the mass and charge.
 - Predict how addition or subtraction of a proton, neutron, or electron will change the element, the charge, and the mass.
 - Use the element name, mass, and charge to determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
 - Define proton, neutron, electron, atom, and ion.
 - Generate an isotopic symbol for an atom, given the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
 
Keywords
For Teachers
Teacher Tips
| Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). | 
Teacher-Submitted Activities
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                    Authors | Level | Type | 
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| Build an Atom | 
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                    Emily Moore, Ariel Paul, Trish Loeblein, Kathy Perkins | MS | Guided HW Lab  | 
                    
                
| Build an Atom - Clicker Questions | 
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                    Yuen-ying Carpenter, Robert Parson, Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro | MC | 
| Build an Atom - Guided-Inquiry Activity | 
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                    Timothy Herzog, Emily Moore | UG-Intro | Guided | 
| Atomic Addition | 
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                    Mary Burr | MS | Guided Discuss  | 
                    
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| What is an atom? | 
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                    Shari Dunham | UG-Intro HS  | 
                    Guided | |
| Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS | 
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                    Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | |
| How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? | 
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                    Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | |
| PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum | 
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                    Julia Chamberlain | UG-Intro HS  | 
                    Other | |
| Unguided atoms intro | Martin Hofkamp | HS MS  | 
                    Lab HW  | 
                    
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| MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | HS MS  | 
                    Other | ||
| Playing with atoms | Simon Lees | HS | Guided HW Lab  | 
                    
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| PhET Atom Simulator | Laura Murgo | HS MS  | 
                    Guided Lab  | 
                    
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| Ion Formation | Rasha Metwally | MS | Guided | ||
| Making STABLE Atoms Lab | Jonathan Johnson | HS MS  | 
                    Lab | ||
| Atom Builder | Thomas Isaac | HS | Guided HW Lab  | 
                    
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| Build an Atom Lab! | Jamie Schoenberger | MS | Guided Lab  | 
                    
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| Student Guide for PhET - Build an Atom in html5 | Brian Libby | HS MS  | 
                    Guided HW  | 
                    
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| Investigating Ions | Emily Bones | HS | Guided | ||
| Build an Atom Student Worksheet | Judy Rieke | MS HS  | 
                    Guided | ||
| Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 | 
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                    Diana López | Grad MS K-5 UG-Adv HS UG-Intro  | 
                    HW Discuss  | 
                    
                
| Constitución básica de un átomo | 
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                    Andrés Palomo, Brisa Aguilera y Diana López | MS HS  | 
                    Guided HW  | 
                    
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| computeropdracht atoombouw; leren over atoombouw | Brechtje Maas | MS HS  | 
                    Guided HW  | 
                    
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| Estudo sobre Átomos | Felipe Alves Silveira | HS | Guided | ||
| Construcción de átomos | Miriam Pujadas | HS | Guided | ||
| Construyendo algunos átomos | Félix A. Gutiérrez Múzquiz | MS | Demo | 
Browse more activities.
Translations
Related Simulations
Software Requirements
| Windows 7+ | Mac OS 10.7+ | iPad and iPad Mini with iOS | Chromebook with Chrome OS | 
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                 Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Chrome. 
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                 Safari 9+, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Chrome. 
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                 Latest version of Safari 
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                 Latest version of Chrome 
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Credits
| Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To | 
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