AP Chemistry: Atomic Structure
Task
Task Purpose Atomic structure often appears opaque to students. They learn what we know, but not necessarily how we know it. Photoelectron Spectroscopy (PES) offers one of the rare opportunities for students to make their own conclusions regarding the arrangement of electrons in an atom/ion, serving as direct evidence for all of the theory they are taught. Narrative In this task, students: Graph PES data of two unknown elements, thereby appreciating the nuances of graphing the relevant data to make it ready/ideal for analysis. Analyze the graphs to make conclusions about binding energies of outer and inner electrons. Make deductions about the electronic configuration of the elements using the information presented in the data and graphs. Standard Overall, the task achieves the following goal of the AP Chemistry curriculum, which is as follows: 1.6.A Explain the relationship between the photo-electron spectrum of an atom or ion and: The ground-state electron configuration of the species. The interactions between the electrons and the nucleus. How Tuva Enhances the Lesson By allowing students to create the graphs before analyzing them, Tuva enhances student’s understanding of what the graphs mean and why they are presented in a specific format in textbooks. This allows them to make better sense of the data and make meaningful conclusions from the graphs.
Here’s a quick challenge. Can you combine the words/phrases shown here into a factually correct statement? Kai Siegbahn, x-rays, spectroscopy, 1981, Nobel Prize, electronic structure, atoms As you work through today’s task, you will relive the work of a Nobel prize winning physicist, Kai Siegbahn, and countless others who came before him and helped solve one of a mystery that puzzled scientists for decades. Let’s find out what’s common to all the words listed above and use data from photoelectron spectroscopy to learn more about atoms.
Topics and standards: Chemistry, Physical Science, Atomic, Grades 9-12, AP Sciences, AP Chemistry, Assessment