100 Chapter 4

4.1 Studying Atoms

Key ConceptsWhat was Dalton’s theoryof the structure of matter?

What contributions didThomson and Rutherfordmake to the developmentof atomic theory?

Vocabulary◆ nucleus

Reading StrategySummarizing Copy thetable. As you read,complete the table aboutatomic models.

Studying the structure of atoms is a little like studying wind. Becauseyou cannot see air, you must use indirect evidence to tell the directionof the wind. You might notice which way fallen leaves move as they arepushed by the wind, and infer that the leaves and wind are moving inthe same direction.

Atoms pose a similar problem because they are extremely small.Even with a microscope, scientists cannot see the structure of an atom.In this chapter, you will find out how John Dalton, J. J. Thomson,Ernest Rutherford, Niels Bohr, and other scientists used evidence fromexperiments to develop models of atoms.

Ancient Greek Models of Atoms If you cut a piece of aluminum foil in half, you have two smaller piecesof the same shiny, flexible substance. You could cut the pieces again andagain. Can you keep dividing the aluminum into smaller pieces? Greekphilosophers debated a similar question about 2500 years ago.

The philosopher Democritus believed that all matter consisted ofextremely small particles that could not be divided. He called theseparticles atoms from the Greek word atomos, which means “uncut” or“indivisible.” He thought there were different types of atoms with spe-cific sets of properties. The atoms in liquids, for example, were roundand smooth, but the atoms in solids were rough and prickly.

Aristotle did not think there was a limit to the number of timesmatter could be divided. Figure 1 shows the model Aristotle used todescribe matter. For many centuries, most people accepted Aristotle’sviews on the structure of matter. But by the 1800s, scientists hadenough data from experiments to support an atomic model of matter.

Rutherford

Ratio of massesin compounds

Positive, densenucleus

Scientist Evidence Model

b. ?a. ?

Deflected beam

e. ?

d. ?c. ?

Fire

Water

DryHot

ColdW

et

Air Earth

Figure 1 Aristotle thought thatall substances were built up fromonly four elements—earth, air,fire, and water. These elementswere a combination of fourqualities—hot, cold, dry, and wet.Fire was a combination of hot anddry. Water was a combination ofcold and wet.

100 Chapter 4

FOCUS

Objectives4.1.1 Describe ancient Greek models

of matter.4.1.2 List the main points of Dalton’s

atomic theory and describe hisevidence for the existence ofatoms.

4.1.3 Explain how Thomson andRutherford used data fromexperiments to produce theiratomic models.

Build VocabularyLatin Plural Forms Explain that theword nucleus comes from a Latin wordmeaning “kernel.” Explain that a kernelis a grain or seed. Ask students to discusshow the definition of the term nucleusrelates to its Latin origin. (Like the kernelof a nut, the nucleus is a small, massivecenter of the atom.) Remind students thatthe plural of the word nucleus is nuclei.

Reading Strategya. Dalton b. Indivisible, solid spheresc. Thomson d. Negative charges evenlyscattered through a positively chargedmass of matter (plum pudding model)e. Deflection of alpha particles passingthrough gold foil

INSTRUCT

Ancient Greek Models of AtomsUse VisualsFigure 1 Have students examine thediagram in Figure 1 that lists thequalities of each of Aristotle’s fourelements. Ask, What qualities didAristotle use to describe air? (Air is acombination of hot and wet.) Whatelement was a combination of dryand cold? (Earth) Is “wet and cold” an accurate description of water?(Wet describes water, but water isn’talways cold.)Visual

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Reading Focus

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Section 4.1

Print• Guided Reading and Study Workbook

With Math Support, Section 4.1 • Transparencies, Chapter Pretest and

Section 4.1

Technology• iText, Section 4.1• Presentation Pro CD-ROM, Chapter Pretest

and Section 4.1• Go Online, NSTA SciLinks, Atomic theory

Section Resources

Dalton’s Atomic TheoryJohn Dalton was born in England in 1766. He was a teacher who spenthis spare time doing scientific experiments. Because of his interest inpredicting the weather, Dalton studied the behavior of gases in air.Based on the way gases exert pressure, Dalton correctly concluded thata gas consists of individual particles.

Evidence for Atoms Dalton gathered evidence for the existenceof atoms by measuring the masses of elements that combine whencompounds form. He noticed that all compounds have something incommon. No matter how large or small the sample, the ratio of themasses of the elements in the compound is always the same. In otherwords, compounds have a fixed composition.

For example, when magnesium burns, as shown in Figure 2, itcombines with oxygen. The product of this change is a white solidcalled magnesium oxide. A 100-gram sample of magnesium combineswith 65.8 grams of oxygen. A 10-gram sample of magnesium com-bines with 6.58 grams of oxygen. The ratio of the mass of magnesiumto the mass of oxygen is constant in magnesium oxide.

Dalton’s Theory Dalton developed a theory to explain why theelements in a compound always join in the same way. Dalton pro-posed the theory that all matter is made up of individual particlescalled atoms, which cannot be divided. The main points of Dalton’stheory are as follows.

■ All elements are composed of atoms.

■ All atoms of the same element have the same mass, and atoms ofdifferent elements have different masses.

■ Compounds contain atoms of more than one element.

■ In a particular compound, atoms of different elements alwayscombine in the same way.

In the model of atoms based on Dalton’s theory, the elementsare pictured as solid spheres like those in Figure 3. Each type ofatom is represented by a tiny, solid sphere with a different mass.

Recall that a theory must explain the data from many exper-iments. Because Dalton’s atomic theory met that goal, the theorybecame widely accepted. Over time, scientists found that not allof Dalton’s ideas about atoms were completely correct. But this didnot cause later scientists to discard the atomic theory. Instead, theyrevised the theory to take into account new discoveries.

What did Dalton notice that all compounds havein common?

Figure 2 Magnesium reacts withoxygen to form the compoundmagnesium oxide. The ratio ofmagnesium to oxygen, by mass, inmagnesium oxide is always about3 : 2. Observing What color ismagnesium oxide?

Atomic Structure 101

Figure 3 Dalton made thesewooden spheres to represent theatoms of different elements.

Dalton’s AtomicTheoryBuild Science SkillsEvaluating As students read Chapter 4,have them evaluate what portions ofDalton’s model were accurate and whatportions needed to be revised. (Daltondid not discuss subatomic particles, which are smaller components of atoms.Atoms of the same element can havedifferent masses.)Logical

Many students have trouble differen-tiating compounds from mixtures.Remind students that Dalton noticedthat the ratio of masses of elements in a compound is always the same.Compounds are distinguished frommixtures and solutions by their fixedcompositions. Have students recallexamples of mixtures and describe how their compositions can vary. Verbal

Use VisualsFigure 3 Have students examine thewooden spheres shown in Figure 3. Ask, Why do you think there are holes in Dalton’s wooden spheres?(One acceptable answer is that Daltonused the holes in the spheres to connectspheres together to construct models of compounds.)Visual, Logical

FYINot every scientist was convinced thatDalton had the physical evidence tosupport the assumption that elements arecomposed of indivisible particles calledatoms. William Whewell (1784–1868)argued that particles could combine infixed proportions in compounds, but stillnot be indivisible.

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Atomic Structure 101

Customize for English Language Learners

Using Visual Aids Have students draw simple illustrations for the models of atoms according to Dalton,Thompson, and Rutherford. Have them

describe each model to a partner using theillustrations as a visual aid. Then, have eachpair of students discuss the similarities anddifferences among the three models. Answer to . . .

Figure 2 White

Dalton noticed that the ratio of masses of

elements in a compound is always the same.

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Thomson’s Model of the AtomWhen some materials are rubbed, they gain the ability to attract orrepel other materials. Glass and the amber in Figure 4 have this prop-erty. Based on their behavior, such materials are said to have either apositive or a negative electric charge. Objects with like charges repel,or push apart. Objects with opposite charges attract, or pull together.

Some charged particles can flow from one location to another.A flowof charged particles is called an electric current. When you turn on anappliance such as a hair dryer, a current flows from the wall socketthrough the appliance. Joseph John Thomson (1856–1940), better knownas J. J. Thomson, used an electric current to learn more about atoms.

Thomson’s Experiments Thomson used a device like the oneshown in Figure 5A. At the center of the device is a sealed glass tubefrom which most of the air has been removed. There is a metal disk ateach end of the tube. Wires connect the metal disks to a source of elec-tric current. When the current is turned on, one disk becomes negativelycharged and the other disk becomes positively charged. A glowingbeam appears in the space between the disks.

Thomson hypothesized that the beam was a stream of charged par-ticles that interacted with the air in the tube and caused the air to glow.In one experiment Thomson did to test his hypothesis, he placed a pairof charged metal plates on either side of the glass tube, as shown inFigure 5B. The plates caused the beam to deflect, or bend, from itsstraight path. Thomson observed that the beam was repelled by thenegatively charged plate and attracted by the positively charged plate.

Investigating Charged Objects

Materialstransparent tape, metric ruler, scissors

Procedure1. Cut two 10-cm pieces of tape. Fold over 1 cm

of tape at one end of each piece of tape toform a “handle.”

2. Hold the pieces of tape by their folded endsso that they are hanging straight down.Then, without letting the pieces of tape touch,slowly bring their sticky sides close together.Record your observations.

3. Place one piece of tape on a clean surface withthe sticky side facing down.

4. Place the second piece, sticky side down,directly over the first piece, as shown. Pressdown firmly so the pieces stick together.

5. Remove the joined strips from the table.Slowly peel the strips apart.

6. Bring the separated strips close togetherwithout touching. Record your observations.

Analyze and Conclude1. Drawing Conclusions What can you

conclude about the charges on the twopieces of tape after they are separated?

2. Inferring What other objects have youobserved that became charged?

Sticky sides down

Figure 4 Amber is the hardenedform of a sticky, viscous liquidthat protects trees from insectsand disease. If amber is rubbedwith wool, it becomes chargedand can attract a feather.Predicting What will happento the feather if the amber losesits charge?

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Thomson’s Model of the Atom

InvestigatingCharged Objects

ObjectiveAfter completing this activity, studentswill be able to• explain that like charges repel and

unlike charges attract.

Skills Focus Observing, DrawingConclusions, FormulatingHypotheses

Prep Time 5 minutes

Class Time 10 minutes

Expected Outcome Students willdiscover that the two pieces of tape areattracted to one another after they arepulled apart and then brought near oneanother.

Analyze and Conclude 1. The two pieces of tape have oppositecharges because they attract whenbrought close together. 2. Possible answers include clothes thatcling together when removed from adryer, and the charge that builds upwhen a person walks across a carpet(which is demonstrated by the sparkthat occurs when the person touches a doorknob). Kinesthetic, Logical

FYIIf you do not want to present all theexperimental evidence for the atomictheory, be sure students understandattraction and repulsion of chargedparticles and Rutherford’s nucleus modelof the atom.

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Section 4.1 (continued)

Charge People have known for thousands ofyears that amber can attract other materials after it has been rubbed with fur. Plato evenrefers to these attractive powers of amber in one of his dialogues.

The labels positive and negative werearbitrarily assigned by Benjamin Franklinduring his studies of electric charge andelectric current. (He also was the first to usethe terms battery and conductor.)

Facts and Figures

Evidence for Subatomic Particles Thomson concludedthat the particles in the beam had a negative charge because they wereattracted to the positive plate. He hypothesized that the particles camefrom inside atoms. He had two pieces of evidence to support hishypothesis. No matter what metal Thomson used for the disk, the par-ticles produced were identical. The particles had about the massof a hydrogen atom, the lightest atom.

Thomson’s discovery changed how scientists thought about atoms.Before his experiments, the accepted model of the atom was a solid ballof matter that could not be divided into smaller parts. Thomson’sexperiments provided the first evidence that atoms are made of evensmaller particles. Thomson revised Dalton’s model to account for thesesubatomic particles.

Thomson’s Model An atom is neutral, meaning it has neither anegative nor a positive charge. How can an atom contain negative par-ticles and still be neutral? There must be some positive charge in theatom. In Thomson’s model of the atom, the negative charges wereevenly scattered throughout an atom filled with a positively chargedmass of matter. The model is called the “plum pudding” model, aftera traditional English dessert.

You might prefer to think of Thomson’s model as the “chocolatechip ice cream” model. Think of the chocolate chips in Figure 6 as thenegative particles and the vanilla ice cream as the positively chargedmass of matter. When the chocolate chips are spread evenly through-out the ice cream, their “negative charges” balance out the “positivecharge” of the vanilla ice cream.

How do objects with the same charge behavewhen they come close to one another?

12000

Sealed tube filled withgas at low pressure

Source ofelectric current

Metal disk

–

+

Metal disk

Glowingbeam

A

Figure 5 Thomson used a sealed tube of gas in his experiments.A When the current was on, the disks became charged and aglowing beam appeared in the tube. B The beam bent toward apositively charged plate placed outside the tube. Inferring What was the charge on the particles in the beam?

Figure 6 A scoop of chocolatechip ice cream can representThomson’s model of the atom.The chips represent negativelycharged particles, which arespread evenly through a mass ofpositively charged matter—thevanilla ice cream.

Atomic Structure 103

Positiveplate

Negativeplate

B

Source ofelectric current

Metal disk

–

+

FYIThomson used the speed of an electron,its angle of deflection, and the strengthof the current to determine the charge-to-mass ratio of an electron. RobertMilliken determined the actual mass of an electron through his oil-dropexperiment.

The current that flows through anappliance is an alternating current. Thecurrent Thomson used in his experimentwas a direct current. Not all movementof charge is a current. Charge can flowto or from a balloon (or between a handand a doorknob). With a current, chargemust flow continuously (at least until the circuit is interrupted). The conceptsof electric charge and current areaddressed in depth in Chapter 20.

Use Community ResourcesHave a physics or chemistry professor visitthe class and demonstrate Thomson’sexperiment using a cathode ray tube.Encourage students to think of questionsto ask about how the experimentdemonstrates the properties of electrons. Interpersonal, Visual

Build Reading LiteracyCompare and Contrast Refer topage 226D in Chapter 8, whichprovides the guidelines for comparingand contrasting.

Have students read about the differentatomic models described in Section 4.1.Then, have students create a chart thatcompares and contrasts each model.Logical

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Atomic Structure 103

Answer to . . .

Figure 4 The feather will no longerbe attracted to the amber and willdrop to the ground.

Figure 5 Negative

Objects with the samecharge repel.

Expected results

Gold atoms

Actual results

Nucleus

Alphaparticles

Alphaparticles

Rutherford’s Atomic TheoryWhen you try something new, you may have expectations about theoutcome. Does the outcome always meet your expectations or are yousometimes surprised? Scientists can also be surprised by the results oftheir experiments, but unexpected results can lead to important dis-coveries. This is what happened to Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937).

Rutherford’s Hypothesis In 1899, Ernest Rutherford discov-ered that uranium emits fast-moving particles that have a positivecharge. He named them alpha particles. In 1909, Rutherford asked oneof his students, Ernest Marsden, to find out what happens to alphaparticles when they pass through a thin sheet of gold.

Recall that in Thomson’s model of the atom, the mass and positivecharge are evenly spread throughout an atom. Based on this model,Rutherford hypothesized that the mass and charge at any location inthe gold would be too small to change the path of an alpha particle. Hepredicted that most particles would travel in a straight path from theirsource to a screen that lit up when struck. Those few that did not passstraight through would be deflected only slightly.

The Gold Foil Experiment Marsden used the equipmentshown in Figure 7. He aimed a narrow beam of alpha particles at thegold. The screen around the gold was made of a material that produceda flash of light when struck by a fast-moving alpha particle. By observ-ing the flash, Marsden could figure out the path of an alpha particleafter it passed through the gold.

Some of the locations of the flashes on the screen did not supportRutherford’s prediction. More particles were deflected than he expected.About one out of every 20,000 was deflected by more than 90 degrees.Some of the alpha particles behaved as though they had struck an objectand bounced straight back.

Figure 7 The path of an alphaparticle can be detected by thelocation of a flash on a screen.Rutherford expected the paths ofthe positively charged alphaparticles that were aimed at thethin gold foil to be affected onlyslightly by the gold atoms. Butmore particles were deflectedthan expected and some particlesbounced straight back.

For: Links on atomic theory

Visit: www.SciLinks.org

Web Code: ccn-1041

104 Chapter 4

Screen

Undeflectedparticle

Gold foil

90�

Source ofalpha particles

Slit

Beam ofalpha

particles

Deflectedparticle

104 Chapter 4

Rutherford’s Atomic TheoryFYIBased on Figure 7, students mightconclude that Marsden used a circularscreen. The screen in the diagramrepresents multiple positions of a smallerscreen that was moved from one positionto another while data was collected.Alpha particles will be identified ashelium nuclei in Chapter 10.

Comparing Atomic Models

Purpose Students will comparedifferent atomic models.

Materials 3 clear, round bowls;flavored gelatin mix; canned blueberries;maraschino cherries

Procedure The day before, prepare theflavored gelatin mix. Divide the liquidgelatin evenly into the three bowls. Chillslightly. Drain the blueberries and addthem to one of the bowls so that theyare distributed as evenly as possible inthe nearly gelled mix. Return the bowlsto the refrigerator. Right before class,place a cherry in the center of the thirdbowl. Have students discuss whichatomic models are represented by eachbowl of gelatin.

Expected Outcome The gelatin alonerepresents Dalton’s atomic model. Thegelatin with blueberries representsThomson’s “plum-pudding” atomicmodel, with the berries representingelectrons. The gelatin with the cherryrepresents Rutherford’s atomic model.Visual, Logical

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Section 4.1 (continued)

In His Own Words In a lecture Rutherfordgave at Cambridge in 1936, he recalled hisreaction when Geiger told him about alphaparticles being scattered backward by the

gold foil. Rutherford described his reaction. “It was almost as incredible as if you fired a15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and itcame back and hit you.”

Facts and Figures

Download a worksheet on atomictheory for students to complete,and find additional teacher supportfrom NSTA SciLinks.

Section 4.1 Assessment

Reviewing Concepts1. What theory did Dalton propose about

the structure of matter?

2. What evidence did J. J. Thomson provideabout the structure of an atom?

3. What did Rutherford discover about thestructure of an atom?

4. What evidence did Thomson have that hisglowing beam contained negative particles?

5. Why was Dalton’s model of the atom changedafter Thomson’s experiment?

Critical Thinking6. Comparing and Contrasting Explain why

scientists accepted Dalton’s atomic theory butnot the idea of an atom proposed by theGreek philosophers.

7. Drawing Conclusions If you observeda beam of particles being bent toward anegatively charged plate, what mightyou conclude?

8. Relating Cause and Effect In theRutherford experiment, why weren’t allthe alpha particles deflected?

Discovery of the Nucleus The alpha particles whosepaths were deflected must have come close to another chargedobject. The closer they came, the greater the deflection was.But many alpha particles passed through the gold withoutbeing deflected. From these results, Rutherford con-cluded that the positive charge of an atom is not evenlyspread throughout the atom. It is concentrated in avery small, central area that Rutherford called thenucleus. The nucleus is a dense, positively chargedmass located in the center of the atom. (The plural ofnucleus is nuclei.)

Because Thomson’s model no longer explainedall the evidence, Rutherford proposed a new model.

According to Rutherford’s model, all of an atom’spositive charge is concentrated in its nucleus. The alphaparticles whose paths were deflected by more than 90 degreescame very close to a nucleus. The alpha particles whose paths werenot bent moved through the space surrounding the nuclei withoutcoming very close to any nucleus.

Figure 8 shows the inside of the Astrodome, a domed stadium inHouston, Texas. The roof of the stadium rises to a height of 202 feetabove the center of the field. If an atom had the same volume as the sta-dium, its nucleus would have the volume of a marble. The total volumeof an atom is about a trillion (1012) times the volume of its nucleus.

Atomic Structure 105

Writing to Persuade Imagine you live inancient Greece. Assume all you know aboutmatter is what you can observe with your fivesenses. You have heard the views of bothDemocritus and Aristotle about matter. Writea paragraph supporting one of their views.

Figure 8 The Houston Astrodomeoccupies more than nine acres andseats 60,000 people. If the stadiumwere a model for an atom, amarble could represent its nucleus. Using Analogies In the model,where would the marble have tobe located in the stadium torepresent the nucleus?

Build Science SkillsUsing Models Have students model thegold foil experiment by shooting marblesacross the floor at an arrangement ofwidely spaced, small objects—such asbeads that are glued to a flat surface—and recording the angle of the marblesthat are deflected. Discuss the results oftheir experiment in light of Marsden’sfindings. Kinesthetic, Interpersonal

Integrate BiologyCells in most living organisms have acentral structure called a nucleus. Thisorganelle contains the cell’s genetic, orhereditary, material. Ask, How are anatom’s nucleus and a cell’s nucleussimilar? (They are both central structuresof a basic unit.)Logical

ASSESSEvaluate UnderstandingAsk groups of students to summarizeDalton’s, Thompson’s, and Rutherford’satomic theories. Have them come upwith simple word phrases or mnemonicdevices to help them easily distinguishamong the three theories. For example,Dogs Sort Socks � Dalton’s Solid Sphere;Turtles Play Ping-pong � Thomson’sPlum Pudding; and Rats Poke Noodles �Rutherford’s Positive Nucleus.

ReteachUse the Science and History time line on p. 114 to present and discuss asummary of the three models.

Students might argue that theproperties Democritus assigned toatoms match observed properties ofmatter, such as smoothness androughness. Students might argue thatthe properties Aristotle assigned toelements serve a similar purpose, and his system also seems to account forchanges between types of matter.

If your class subscribes toiText, use it to review key concepts inSection 4.1.

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Atomic Structure 105

5. Dalton assumed atoms were solid,indivisible particles. Thomson had evidencethat smaller particles existed inside atoms. 6. Dalton had data from experiments tosupport his theory, whereas the Greeks did not have data.7. The particles have a positive charge.8. The nucleus is small compared with theatom as a whole. Very few of the alphaparticles came close enough to a gold nucleusto be deflected.

Section 4.1 Assessment

1. All matter is composed of individualparticles called atoms, which cannot bedivided.2. Thomson provided the first evidence thatatoms are made from even smaller particles.3. All of the positive charge of an atom isconcentrated in its nucleus. 4. The beam was attracted to a positivelycharged plate and repelled by a negativelycharged plate.

Answer to . . .

Figure 8 The marble would have tobe located in the center of the stadium.

Small-Scale ConstructionSome scientists and engineers think of atoms and molecules asconstruction materials for building very small objects.

Building from the bottom upWith a scanning tunnelingmicroscope, it is possible to moveindividual atoms or molecules.This figure, made of linked carbonmonoxide molecules, is just fivenanometers (0.000005 mm) tall. In1990, scientists built this figure todemonstrate bottom-upconstruction methods.

Building from the top downGears are toothed disks that aredesigned to fit together so that themotion of one gear controls themotion of another. These silicon gearsare among the smallest objects evermade from the top down.

The field of science called nanotechnology is named for a unitof measurement—the nanometer. A billion nanometers (109 nm)can fit in one meter. The diameter of a human hair is about80,000 nm. Scientists and engineers who use nanometers asmeasuring units are building miniature versions of objectssuch as motors.

There are two general methods for building any object.You can start with more material than you need andshape the object by removing matter or you canbuild up the object from smaller pieces. When youshape your nails with an emery board, you are using atop-down construction method. When you see “someassembly required” on the side of a box, the manufacturerexpects you to use a bottom-up method of construction.

Silicon gearassembly

Dust mite

106 Chapter 4

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Small-ScaleConstructionBackgroundThe diameter of one of the silicon gearsis 50 microns (50,000 nanometers).Despite their relative sizes on the page, the silicon gear is much largerthan the model of nanogears. (Theatomic radius of a carbon atom is only770 nanometers.)

In 1959, Richard Feynman suggestedthe possibility of nanometer-scaleconstruction when he said, “Theprinciples of physics, as far as I can see,do not speak against the possibility ofmaneuvering things atom by atom.”

The uses for small-scale constructionare potentially very diverse, thoughcurrently they are very limited. Biologistsalready use nanotechnology to maketiny labels for use in diagnostic andpharmaceutical research. Suchmolecular labels can be injected orabsorbed in one part of the body andthen traced as they travel throughoutthe body. One company has even madea sunscreen with nanometer-sizedparticles that scatter harmful light rayswhile transmitting visible light, whichmakes the cream clear instead of white.

Build Science Skills

Using Models

Purpose Students will explore the difference between top-down and bottom-up methods of construction.

Materials modeling clay, plastic knives

Class Time 10 minutes

Procedure Have students use the top-down method to construct a model of agear like the one shown in the dust mitephoto. Consider bringing in samples ofgears for students to observe. Then,have students use the bottom-upmethod to construct a model of thestick figure shown in the feature.

Expected Outcome Students willmake a gear by starting with a lump ofclay and then removing clay to shapethe gear (a top-down constructionmethod). They will make a stick figureby joining small pieces of clay together(a bottom-up method of construction).Kinesthetic, Visual

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� Research proposed uses of nanotechnology.Make a poster describing one proposed use.Explain the advantage ofusing small objects in thisapplication. What problemsmust be solved before theapplication can be used?

� Take a Discovery ChannelVideo Field Trip by watching“Go For Gold.”

Going Further

Video Field Trip

NanogearsThis image of nanogears was produced with a computer program designed to make models of molecules. Hollow tubes(nanotubes) made from sheets of carbonatoms do exist. So do the rings containingcarbon and hydrogen atoms, which are usedfor the “teeth” of the gears. But researchersneed to figure out how to get the “teeth”to attach to the tubes.

The future ofnanotechnology

Potential applications fornanotechnology include

medical diagnostic tools and atomic-level electronic devices that

assemble themselves. If such devicesprove successful, perhaps someday

the surgical robot will be built.

Sheet of carbon atomsrolled into a tube

Futuristic model of ananorobot performing

surgery in a blood vessel.

Ring of carbon atoms withhydrogen atoms attached

Atomic Structure 107

Going FurtherPossible uses include bar codes thatattach to molecules and are used to monitor biological processes, devices that deliver drugs to specificlocations in the body at specific times,and self-assembling products. Oneoverall challenge is the construction of interfaces between humans and tiny devices. Verbal, Visual

Atomic Structure 107

After students have viewed the Video Field Trip,ask them the following questions: What did theancient Egyptians know about how gold reactswith air? (They realized that gold does not reacteasily with air and does not corrode like many othermetals.) Name a practical reason why templeroofs were often covered with gold in countrieswith hot climates. (Because gold is an excellent

reflector of sunlight, it kept the interiors cooler thanthey would have been otherwise.) How do theproperties of gold make it useful on spacemissions? (Gold is often used to coat space vehiclesin order to reflect the intense sunlight. A thin layer ofgold on the goggles used by astronauts reduces theintensity of light reaching the astronauts’ eyes.)How can the arrangement of atoms on thesurface of gold be observed? (Electronmicroscopes are designed to trace the arrangementof particles on a surface through the up-and-downmovement of a probe tip.)

Video Field Trip

Go For Gold