Bảng Marbles Mô Phỏng Electron Orbital & Shell

One of the hardest parts of chemistry is understanding how electrons orbit the nucleus and fill in their shells (S, P, D, and F). On top of that you add the spin (up or down) to model uncertainty.

It was hard for me to organize and process how to combine all these facets of the electron.
For this I combined an orbital diagram worksheet with other orbital diagrams to show how the electrons fill in order. Using marbles, you can easily manipulate in 3D how the shells fill in order. 

While you can waste paper filling out orbital diagrams, I figured a way to model the shell levels, numbers and spin into one manipulative. If you have the Photographic Card Deck of the Elements (periodictable.com) you can use the cards to help your class study, or challenge and review the elements with this board.

Lesson plan can be purchased on TPT HERE

PARTS REQUIRED

This will require 118 (16 mm) marbles. I tried to sort the ones I have by color, but that was me being picky for the video.

Try to source the marbles from a decent quality source. The ones I got at a local dollar store were frequently oblong and badly out of round. If you use ball bearings that may work better. 

This is good for a AP Chem or College chem class. Print 2-6 sets for a class to do as a small group activity. Speed games can be developed as well to test students

Print instructions

Unassociated tags: AP chemistry, electron spin, orbital diagrams

Category: Learning Standards

NGSS Overview and Background

Electron shells

Explore the shell shapes, then the order in how they fill.

Explore the numbering system, and the Up and Down spin of electrons.

Lesson Plan and Activity

Lesson management

1-5 class periods based on depth of lesson.

Watch students to make sure they don't inhale marbles. Tape down to table if you worry about students knocking them off.

To prevent flying marbles, have a rule like "It fly's you fail ".

Materials Needed

Small group

This would make for a small group (3-4 students) activity. They can challenge others to find the element and label the electron orbitals.