PhET Simulation: Isotopes and Atomic Mass

Isotopes, atomic mass, percent abundance and average atomic mass can be very confusing concepts for students at all levels. This online inquiry lab will guide your students through these topics as they develop an in depth understanding of these concepts. This product is designed for use with the Isotopes and Atomic Mass HTML5 simulation from PhET Interactive Simulations.

In this online lab your students will use information about the subatomic particles in an element’s nucleus and the element’s naturally occurring percent abundance in order to:
(1) define the term isotope.
(2) determine the identity of an atom.
(3) calculate an element’s average atomic mass.
(4) predict how an element’s average atomic mass will change if the percent abundance of its isotope changes.

This online guided inquiry lab is geared towards high school and lower university students.

PhET Interactive Simulations incorporate research based, student centered activities that are fun and easy to use. All of the PhET simulations are available from their website: phet.colorado.edu. This PhET online simulation can be done in the classroom or during distance learning.

This product includes:
(1) The lab activity worksheets.
(2) An answer key for the worksheets.
(3) Two pages of notes covering atomic structure and isotopes.
(4) A Getting Started Teachers Guide explaining the learning goals of the online lab and the important points of the simulation that you should point out before students begin their investigations into isotopes and atomic mass.