Atom Animation Resources

A fantastic animated introduction to the atom. Complete with review quiz.

2) How to Find Out How Many Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons in an Element

These great lessons come from our own Jefferson Labs in Newport News!

Everything you need to know about the elements. Has a picture of the electronic configuration of all the known elements! Scroll down and click on the picture on the right side that looks like this. Use this to fill out your Atom Sheet.

4) Chem4Kids

This excellent website will give you all the information you need to know about the first 18 elements of the Periodic Table!

5) Atoms

The concepts covered in this animation include: Atoms, parts of atoms, elements, protons, neutrons, electrons, elements, isotopes, ions, atomic structure, and the periodic table. This tutorial will tell you how many electrons are located on each shell of the atoms 1- 18 and you can build your own atom!

6) Elements

Accurate animations of all the elements!

7) Atomic Structure

A good step-by-step introduction to atoms!

Basic Atom Animation Example

Basic Atom Animation Example 2

Creative Atom Animation Examples

Electron shells

Electrons are arranged in shells or orbits around the nucleus.

Maximum number

There is a definite arrangement of the electrons in these shells and a maximum number of electrons possible in each shell.

Shell or Orbit Number	1	2	3	4	5
Maximum Number of Electrons	2	8	18	32	50

The most electrons possible in the first shell are 2. After the first shell is filled, the second shell starts filling up, according to the number of positive charges in the nucleus. The most allowed in the second shell is 8 electrons. Then the third shell starts to fill.

Maximum number of electrons in level = 2n²

This means that the first shell can hold only two electrons. The second shell with n = 2 can hold only eight, 8, electrons.

Row in periodic table	Shell	2n²	Maximum number of electrons in shell
1	n=1	2(1)² = 2	2
2	n=2	2(2)²= 8	8
3	n=3	2(3)²= 18	18

Atomic Number	Element	Energy Levels or "shells"
Atomic Number	Element	K	L	M	N	O
1	Hydrogen (H)	1
2	Helium (He)	2
3	Lithium (Li)	2	1
4	Beryllium (Be)	2	2
5	Boron (B)	2	3
6	Carbon (C)	2	4
7	Nitrogen (N)	2	5
8	Oxygen (O)	2	6
9	Fluorine (F)	2	7
10	Neon (Ne)	2	8
11	Sodium (Na)	2	8	1
12	Magnesium (Mg)	2	8	2
13	Aluminum (Al)	2	8	3
14	Silicon (Si)	2	8	4
15	Phosphorus (P)	2	8	5
16	Sulfur (S)	2	8	6
17	Chlorine (Cl)	2	8	7
18	Argon (Ar)	2	8	8
19	Potassium (K)	2	8	8	1
20	Calcium (Ca)	2	8	8	2
21	Scandium (Sc)	2	8	9	2
22	Titanium (Ti)	2	8	10	2
23	Vanadium (V)	2	8	11	2
24	Chromium (Cr)	2	8	13	1
25	Manganese (Mn)	2	8	13	2
26	Iron (Fe)	2	8	14	2
27	Cobalt (Co)	2	8	15	2
28	Nickel (Ni)	2	8	16	2
29	Copper (Cu)	2	8	18	1
30	Zinc (Zn)	2	8	18	2
31	Gallium (Ga)	2	8	18	3
32	Germanium (Ge)	2	8	18	4
33	Arsenic (As)	2	8	18	5
34	Selenium (Se)	2	8	18	6
35	Bromine (Br)	2	8	18	7
36	Krypton (Kr)	2	8	18	8
42	Molybdenum (Mo)	2	8	18	13	1
50	Tin (Sn)	2	8	18	18	4
53	Iodine (I)	2	8	18	18	7

Information for Teachers

1) The Particle Adventure

A great interactive look at the structure of the atom. Also examines the experiments behind the knowledge. A more advanced look at the structure of the atom, yet in layman’s terms.

2) Atomic Evolution

A Think Quest website created by high school students!