How To Make An Oxygen Atom Replica

An oxygen atom has a nucleus with protons and neutrons, and electrons that orbit around the nucleus. You can make a three-dimensional model of an oxygen atom with round objects; you can use Styrofoam balls, ping-pong balls, rubber balls or golf balls. The Periodic Table of Elements lists information about oxygen such as its atomic number and atomic mass; you will need this to figure out how many neutrons, protons and electrons are in an oxygen atom.

Step 1

Search the Periodic Table of Elements to find out how many neutrons, protons and electrons an oxygen atom has. Look for diagrams of atoms to use as a reference for you model. (See the Resources section of this article.)

Step 2

Draw a few large circles on the foam core to show the orbit of the electrons. To make a neat circle, tie a long piece of string to a pen. Hold the end of the string against the middle of the foam core board, which will be the center of the circle. With the string taut, draw a circle around the center.

Step 3

Gather the number of balls you need for the nucleus. Use one size for the protons and one for the neutrons. Paint them, using a different color for the protons and neutrons. Glue the balls together and glue them on the foam core, in the center of the circles.

Step 4

Use a marker to mark each proton with a plus sign (+) to represent a positive charge. Leave the neutrons a solid color, since they are neutral.

Step 5

Gather smaller balls to make electrons. You can paint them a different color or leave them white. Glue the smaller balls against the circles you have drawn to represent electrons orbiting around the nucleus. Using a marker, draw a negative sign (-) on each electron to represent a negative charge.