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Attal
LESSON: Isotopes & Radioactivity
UNIT: Atomic Theory
COURSE: General Chemistry
GRADE LEVEL: 10TH GRADE
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
How are isotopes of elements similar and
different?
LESSON OVERVIEW: This lesson focuses on the idea of an element being present in more than one form in
nature. Students should be able to grasp that isotopes of an element are similar because 1) they are the same
element, therefore they have the same identity (atomic number as well as protons/electrons) 2) they are different
in mass, therefore the neutrons of the isotopes are also different. In order for isotopes to achieve stability, they
need to have an appropriate amount of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. If the neutron to proton ratio is
greater than one, the nucleus is unstable and will take on several forms of decay to reach stability. This lesson is
the third lesson in the atomic theory unit.
STANDARDS:
New York State Standards
3.1g: The number of protons in an atom (atomic number) identifies the element. The sum of the
protons and neutrons in an atom (mass number) identifies an isotope. Common notations that
represent isotopes need to be identified.
3.1m: Atoms of an element that contain the same number of protons but a different number
of neutrons are called isotopes of that element.
3.1n: The average atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of its naturally
occurring isotopes.
3.1o: Stability of an isotope is based on the ratio of neutrons and protons in its nucleus. Although
most nuclei are stable, some are unstable and spontaneously decay, emitting radiation.
3.1p: Spontaneous decay can involve the release of alpha particles, beta particles, positrons, and/or
gamma radiation from the nucleus of an unstable isotope. These emissions differ in mass, charge,
ionizing power, and penetrating power.
4.4c: Nuclear reactions can be represented by equations that include symbols which represent
atomic nuclei (with mass number and atomic number), subatomic particles (with mass number and
charge), and/or emissions such as gamma radiation.
4.4e: There are inherent risks associated with radioactivity and the use of radioactive isotopes. Risks
can include biological exposure, long-term storage and disposal, and nuclear accidents.
HS-PS1-6: Much of science deals with constructing explanations of how things change and how they
remain stable.
Lubna Attal
SCOPE OF SEQUENCE:
DO NOW (10 minutes)
Three questions are answered. Questions are isolated into three separate questions because several
students in class feel that they are able to understand the questions much better when they are broken
down vs. one jumble of words.
Lubna
Attal
ASSESSMENT: Informative assessment based on how the partners are explaining the way they solved their
problem to each other on the white board step by step as I walk around the room and ensure that everyone is on
task.
ACCOMMODATIONS/MODIFICATIONS:
MATERIALS&
EQUIPMENT
NEEDED
FOR
LESSON:
PowerPoint,
Smart
Board,
Mini
White
Boards,
Expo
Markers
(variety
of
colors),
calculators,
periodic
tables,
classwork
handout,
homework
handout,
journals.