It is difficult for beginning Chemistry students to understand the concept of an electron 'cloud', especially when introduced to how small an electron is relative to the size of the atom. Navajo High school students use the scientific method to formulate a hypothesis and test the hypothesis relative to an electron cloud around an atom. By the end of the lesson, the students apply dimensional analysis to set up and solve problems. They use significant figures, scientific notation, conversion factors and a relative size analogy for an atom. They analyze the answers to the calculations to help understand the concepts of radial measurements and that an electron travels in all three dimensions of the electron cloud. The outcome of this exercise was a written lab report.

Electron Cloud Lab: Can the electron really be everywhere at once?

245th National Meeting (2013)

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