Going Subatomic
Electrons
Isotopes and Ions
Variety Shell Game
Halloween*
100
The vast majority of any given atom is composed of this.
What is empty space?
100
This is the total charge of 5 electrons all by themselves.
What is -5?
OR
What is 5-?
100
Isotopes of the same element will have different amounts of __________.
What are neutrons?
OR
What is mass?
100
Electrons in the outermost shell go by this name.
What are valence electrons?
OR What is "valence electrons?"
100
The sublimation of dry ice is what is often used for a spooky vapor effect, almost like a ghost. This is what dry ice is made of.
What is carbon dioxide (CO2)?
200
This is the functional purpose of neutrons.
What is "to keep the protons together in the nucleus"?
200
For practical purposes, this is what we consider the atomic mass of one electron to be.
What is 0 amu?
200
This is what the Lewis structure of a carbon atom looks like.
What is the following?
(No credit if any of the electron dots are paired up on a side or corner. That is NOT how to fill in a Lewis / electron dot diagram.)
200
The quantum number (n) of the shell closest to the nucleus is this.
What is 1?
Or What is n=1?
200
Benzaldehyde is the molecule majorly responsible for the flavor in almonds, as well as this specific, sweetened, dyed variety of fruit. You can often find one atop an ice cream sundae.
What are Maraschino cherries?
OR what are cocktail cherries?
OR what are candy cherries?
[Only half-credit for cherries]
300
The amount of this subatomic particle in an atom determines the element's identity, as well as many of its properties.
What is "protons"?
300
True or False: An electron can behave as both a wave and a particle.
What is True?
300
An ion with 10 protons, 12 neutrons, and 8 electrons will have this charge.
What is 2+?
OR what is +2?
300
To better understand the orbitals of an atom from a fundamental standpoint, we learn about them not with the most modern model, but this one instead.
What is the Bohr model?
OR
What is the planetary model?
300
The "Demon Core" was a cursed object, a 6.2 kilogram mass of this radioactive element, intended to be installed in a nuclear weapon. Thankfully, it never got used, since Japan surrender after two prior nuclear strikes in World War II.
What is plutonium?
400
When an atom is neutral (i.e. when it is not an anion or cation), these two totals must always be equal.
What are the number of protons and the number of electrons?
400
When an electron absorbs energy from its surroundings, this happens.
What is "the electron goes to a higher energy level"?
OR
What is "the electron jumps to a higher energy orbital"?
OR
What is "the electron enters an excited state"?
400
This is what the electron dot structure of a chloride ion looks like. (Hint: One more electron than normal)
What is the following?
(For this game, allow credit for not including the - or brackets. That is new information. The key component here is the 8 electron dots.)
400
Each shell can hold more electrons than the last. If the first shell can only hold 2 electrons max, this is the number of electrons the second shell can hold.
What is 8 electrons?
(Theoretically, the third shell can hold eighteen electrons max, which coincides with 18 groups.)
400
This divisive confection is flavored by the root of the same name, but its taste is reinforced by anise oil. (So, much of the flavor does not come from the actual root itself.) This flavor profile is also found in many tobacco products, which are not recommended.
What is licorice?
500
The dense, positive nucleus of an atom was first established with this atomic model. (Looking for the proper noun name, since the model can also be nicknamed the "nuclear model.")
What is the Rutherford Model?
500
This is the number of electrons in a sodium nucleus.
What is zero?
(Never any electrons in a nucleus.)
500
This is the atomic notation of an atom with 36e-, 39p, and 50n.
What is the following?
89 3+
Y
39
500
If an electron in an excited state is at an energy level of n = 3, and it returns to its ground state at n = 1, this is what we would expect to be released from that electron.
What is (1 or 2) photon(s)?
500
According to Google Trends from September 2024 to September 2025, this NON-CHOCOLATE candy is the most popular Halloween candy in 13 states (the most popular by number of states).
What is/are Starbursts?