How to Make an Atom Out of Styrofoam

Just about every introductory level chemistry class will ask students to build an atom model, which helps to visualize what an atom's components are and how they are arranged. There are many materials that can be used for such a project. Perhaps the most popular choice is to use Styrofoam balls to represent the parts of an atom known as electrons, neutrons and protons.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Periodic table of elements Styrofoam balls (preferably in 3 different colors) Permanent marker Superglue Craft wire Pliers Toothpicks Piece of cardboard

1. Determine how many protons, neutrons and electrons the atom that you are constructing has by referring to the periodic table.

2. Decide which color you will use to designate electrons, protons, and neutrons and based on this, make three separate piles of Styrofoam balls.

3. Write in permanent marker a minus sign on the balls designating electrons and a plus sign on ones designating protons. Leave the neutrons blank.

4. Build the nucleus of the atom by gluing together the balls representing protons and neutrons.

5. Determine how many orbit rings the atom has and how many electrons should go on each ring by consulting the periodic table.

6. Using pliers, cut pieces of craft wire to represent orbit rings. If your atom has more than one orbit ring, then each piece of wire cut should be at least 2 inches longer than the last.

7. Use a toothpick to make a hole all the way through each of the electron balls.

8. String the electron balls onto the pieces of wire. Join the two ends of each piece of wire to make circles.

9. Glue the nucleus to the center of the piece of cardboard, then glue the smallest of the orbit rings so that it encircles the nucleus. Glue the next biggest ring around the smaller ring and so on until all the orbit rings surround the nucleus.

10. Leave the project to dry and avoid touching for at least 15 minutes to avoid damage.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, choose the Styrofoam balls you will use in a way that one of the three groups of balls are slightly smaller than in the other two groups. Use the smaller balls to represent electrons, which will make the atom proportional.