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Things You'll Need
Instructions
The Atomic Structure for Aluminum
Determine the number of protons based on aluminum's assignment on the Period Table of Elements. Each element is assigned an atomic number equal to the number of protons contained in its nucleus. Since aluminum (AL) has the atomic number 13, it has 13 protons.
Determine the number of electrons aluminum has. Since atoms have a neutral electrical charge and protons are positively charged, one negatively charged electron is needed to balance each proton. Aluminum has 13 protons so it also has 13 electrons.
Calculate the number of neutrons based on the atomic weight, mass number, and number of protons. The atomic weight of each element is displayed on the Period Table of Elements. For aluminum, the atomic weight is 26.9815386. Round the atomic weight to the closest whole number to get the mass number, which, in this case, is 27. Using the known formula, neutrons = rounded atomic mass - atomic number, the number of neutrons for aluminum is equal to 27 - 13, which is 14.
Research the electron shell configuration for aluminum. This information is available on detailed sheets for each element and translates into the disbursement of the electrons around the nucleus. For aluminum, the electron shell configuration shows it has three energy levels, or three rings of electrons. It has two electrons in the inner ring, eight electrons in the next ring, and three electrons in the outer ring.
Building the Aluminum Atom Model
Pinch off enough red polymer clay to roll into a 1/4 inch ball. Mold the clay into a ball using your hands and then roll it on the tile to create a smooth ball. Continue to do this with the clay until you have 13 red balls for the neutrons and 13 blue balls for the protons.
Push one red ball onto the end of a toothpick and one blue ball onto the other end. Do this until you have 13 toothpicks with red and blue ends. Overlap the toothpicks by crisscrossing their centers so the blue and red balls are next to each other on the outside. Tie the toothpicks together at the centers. This is the nucleus for your model.
Hang the nucleus in the center of the smaller cross-stitch hoop using the fishing wire. Do the same to attach the small hoop so it hangs in the center of the medium hoop and continue to tie the medium hoop so it hangs in the center of the large hoop. Attach the large hoop to the clothes hanger using three tie points, one in the middle of the hanger and one at each end of the hanger, in order to support the weight of the model.
Mark two spots on the small hoop to represent where the neutrons will go. Also mark eight spots on the medium hoop and three on the large hoop. Wrap a small length of black thread around each mark to represent the neutron. Dab a tiny amount of glue to the end of the thread to secure it to the hoop.