Parent plan · Week 4 · Atoms, Electrons & Periodicity — connect, calculate and revise — Physical Science: Chemistry
Parent teaching plan · 36 weeksUnits to teach or revisit
Chapter 2 · Atoms, Electrons & Periodicity
Assigned readings
Develop this chapter question: How does atomic structure explain chemical patterns?
This week’s goals
- Explain models, species, arrows and axes before substituting values.
- Conserve the relevant atoms, charge, amount and energy account.
- Apply independently, state limits and revise from evidence.
Read From a spectrum to an atomic model at chapter launch and revisit it alongside this week’s linked units, figures and investigation.
Five flexible sessions, normally 50–60 minutes. Two core unit sessions are scheduled, with a third for selected demanding topics. Sample week uses a complete 90-minute paper plus about 30 minutes of corrections within two ordinary-hour equivalents.
Session 1 · Electron Configuration — apply and explain
Use the linked chapter reading, unit explanations, figures and notebook.
Your task
Study Parts 3–4 and selected source-model prompts, then attempt the whole-unit application, illustrated practice and changed independent case. Explain a correction, revise the opening model and complete the exit check.
- Prepare the assigned explanation and identify the question.
- Trace a model or graph, labeling its species and units.
- Attempt the assigned reasoning and calculation before opening guidance.
- Compare with criteria and retain an explained correction.
Hint and response guidance
Name the species, quantities, boundary and assumptions before choosing a relationship. Use the matching figure to check each step.
Neutral sulfur: 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁴, totaling 16 electrons. S²⁻ has 18 electrons, with 3p⁶. Its 16 protons retain sulfur identity.
- Use the supplied evidence and correct species/units.
- Explain the relevant mechanism or relationship.
- Show intermediate working or a labeled model.
- State an assumption, limitation or useful next test.
Session 2 · Extended calculation and transfer — Electron Configuration
Use the linked chapter reading, unit explanations, figures and notebook.
Your task
Reconstruct a worked method without looking at its answer. Then solve this changed case, show intermediate steps and units, explain a limit and compare a second method where appropriate: A neutral atom has Z=16. Write its ground-state configuration and electron total for its common 2− ion. Explain why gaining electrons does not change the element.
- Prepare the assigned explanation and identify the question.
- Trace a model or graph, labeling its species and units.
- Attempt the assigned reasoning and calculation before opening guidance.
- Compare with criteria and retain an explained correction.
Hint and response guidance
Name the species, quantities, boundary and assumptions before choosing a relationship. Use the matching figure to check each step.
Neutral sulfur: 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁴, totaling 16 electrons. S²⁻ has 18 electrons, with 3p⁶. Its 16 protons retain sulfur identity.
- Use the supplied evidence and correct species/units.
- Explain the relevant mechanism or relationship.
- Show intermediate working or a labeled model.
- State an assumption, limitation or useful next test.
Session 3 · The Periodic Table — build the model
Use the linked chapter reading, unit explanations, figures and notebook.
Your task
Read the chapter background and unit language. Draw a first model, study the core explanation and Parts 1–2, trace each figure and attempt the visual questions/checks. Complete a first worked case with its answer covered.
- Prepare the assigned explanation and identify the question.
- Trace a model or graph, labeling its species and units.
- Attempt the assigned reasoning and calculation before opening guidance.
- Compare with criteria and retain an explained correction.
Hint and response guidance
Name the species, quantities, boundary and assumptions before choosing a relationship. Use the matching figure to check each step.
The main-group valence pattern remains ns²np⁵, supporting related chemical behavior; the atoms are not identical in size or reactivity. Structure matters: different bonding arrangements can support different electronic behavior, as graphite illustrates.
- Use the supplied evidence and correct species/units.
- Explain the relevant mechanism or relationship.
- Show intermediate working or a labeled model.
- State an assumption, limitation or useful next test.
Session 4 · The Periodic Table — apply and explain
Use the linked chapter reading, unit explanations, figures and notebook.
Your task
Study Parts 3–4 and selected source-model prompts, then attempt the whole-unit application, illustrated practice and changed independent case. Explain a correction, revise the opening model and complete the exit check.
- Prepare the assigned explanation and identify the question.
- Trace a model or graph, labeling its species and units.
- Attempt the assigned reasoning and calculation before opening guidance.
- Compare with criteria and retain an explained correction.
Hint and response guidance
Name the species, quantities, boundary and assumptions before choosing a relationship. Use the matching figure to check each step.
Both fit Group 17. Similar valence patterns support related bonding tendencies, while B has an additional occupied shell and different nuclear charge/shielding. Exact radius, energy and reaction behavior need the specified species and conditions.
- Use the supplied evidence and correct species/units.
- Explain the relevant mechanism or relationship.
- Show intermediate working or a labeled model.
- State an assumption, limitation or useful next test.
Session 5 · Periodic Trends — build the model
Use the linked chapter reading, unit explanations, figures and notebook.
Your task
Read the chapter background and unit language. Draw a first model, study the core explanation and Parts 1–2, trace each figure and attempt the visual questions/checks. Complete a first worked case with its answer covered.
- Prepare the assigned explanation and identify the question.
- Trace a model or graph, labeling its species and units.
- Attempt the assigned reasoning and calculation before opening guidance.
- Compare with criteria and retain an explained correction.
Hint and response guidance
Name the species, quantities, boundary and assumptions before choosing a relationship. Use the matching figure to check each step.
Added occupied shells and shielding can place outer electron density farther from the nucleus; proton count alone does not fix radius. No. Electronegativity concerns bonded electron attraction on a model scale; ionization energy is a specified removal energy.
- Use the supplied evidence and correct species/units.
- Explain the relevant mechanism or relationship.
- Show intermediate working or a labeled model.
- State an assumption, limitation or useful next test.
Submit this week
- Labeled first/revised models and intermediate calculations.
- Assigned practice and assessed attempts with explained corrections.
- Investigation record/report when assigned, identifying supplied versus collected data.
Parent / teacher weekly conference
Use actual written work to adjust support. Do not count a copied solution as independent mastery. Extend or redistribute time where needed; home-study records do not certify supervised or mandated laboratory requirements.
- Can each relevant symbol and unit be explained?
- Does the calculation conserve the appropriate quantities?
- Can the learner solve a changed case and explain an assumption?