Why Are Electrons Important?
Brandon, Larry L. Thornwood High School 339-7800 x 2785 Objectives: The student will be able to write the electron configuration of any element, given the atomic number. Given the location of an element on the periodic table, the student will be able to give the highest energy level the valence electrons are on, and how many valence electrons it has. Materials: 1-Hole rubber stopper, #4, 4 or 5 rubber bands, 2 paper clips. Strategies: Stringing the rubber bands together to make one continuous cord, it is run through the hole in the rubber stopper and a paper clip is attached to each end (to keep everything together). This simple apparatus can be used to simulate the space-filling property of an electron. It is better than the analogy of a fan, because this model fills a 3- dimensional space. Simply moving the hand rapidly in a random motion will quickly cause the rubber stopper to soon occupy a spherical volume. It will bang the knuckles from time to time, so it is not advisable to use
