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Structure of the atom | 14–16 years
Find all the support you need to prepare, deliver, assess and enrich your teaching of the structure of the atom, plus target language and literacy skills
Prepare
Ideas5 ways to teach atomic structure at 14–16
Secure your learners’ understanding of this core topic with these teacher-tested strategies
CPD articleHow to teach atomic structure at 14–16
Strengthen your students’ grasp of the atom and electronic configurations with these models and strategies
IdeasModel atomic structure with playdough
Engage your learners with these fun, tactile ideas and models
CPD articleUse post-16 atomic models to inform 14–16 understanding
It’ll help minimise unhelpful misconceptions too
ResourceChemical misconceptions I: Chemical structure
Explore the structure of atoms, and get a clearer idea of how to present atoms to learners through analogy.
Deliver
ResourceAtoms and ions | Developing Understanding | 14–16 years
Encourage learners to think about how atoms and ions are represented and what this means at the sub-microscopic level
PosterEverything you need to teach the structure of the atom
With this poster and fact sheet, your 14–16 learners will soon know their electrons from their protons
ResourceIsotopes of hydrogen | Johnstone’s triangle | 14–16 years
Use this worksheet to develop learners’ understanding of atoms and isotopes by considering ‘heavy water’ ice cubes
ResourceAtomic structure of lithium | Johnstone’s triangle worksheets | 14–16 years
Use these worksheets to develop learners’ understanding of atomic structure, using the example of lithium
ResourceAtomic structure | Developing Understanding | 14–16 years
Encourage learners to think about how the atomic structure is represented and what this means at the sub-microscopic level
ResourceStructure of the atom | Structure strip | 14–16 years
Support learners to recall and write about the properties of subatomic particles and the structure of an atom
PosterHow to draw electron configuration diagrams
Use this step-by-step to get your 14–16 students drawing electron configuration diagrams confidently
ResourceIYPT activities: build an atom simulator activity sheet
Visualise the abstract topic of atomic structure with an interactive simulation. The activity sheet gives a structured plan which can be used to focus independent exploration
Assess
ResourceAtomic structure and the Sun | Stretch and challenge | 14–16
Stretch learners’ understanding of atomic structure using the context of the Sun
ResourceAtomic structure | Knowledge check | 14–16
Assess learning on atomic structure with a higher and foundation worksheet
Enrich
Games and puzzlesSubatomic particles | Gridlocks puzzle | 14–16 years
Reinforce your students’ understanding of subatomic particles using these sudoku-style puzzles, with printable worksheets and answers
Games and puzzlesAtomic structure | Gridlocks puzzle | 14–16 years
Reinforce your students’ understanding of atomic structure using these sudoku-style puzzles, with printable worksheets and answers
NewsResearch reveals the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
Isotopes help to identify the type of asteroid responsible for the catastrophic event that made dinosaurs extinct
Job profileChemistry engineer, nuclear
Beth monitors the water quality at the construction site of a new nuclear power plant
NewsScientists discover the heaviest oxygen isotope
Help learners delve into atomic structure and isotopes with this research context
NewsHigh pressure forces heavy hydrogen to act like a metal
Explore metallic bonding and isotopes with this latest research looking at metallic hydrogen
ResourceOn This Day - Feb 18 : Introduction of isotope
British chemist Frederick Soddy coined the term isotope (from the Greek, meaning ‘in the same place’) to describe different elements that can be chemically indistinguishable but have different atomic weights and characteristics.
NewsPeriodic table of the isotopes launched by IUPAC
IUPAC has launched a new periodic table which emphasises isotopic composition
Overview resources for Atomic model | 14–16 years
Discover more chemistry teaching resources to engage 14–16 learners with the atomic model