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Physical Science 11/12

Learning Activity Sheets
Quarter 1 – Week 1B: Synthesis of New Elements

First Edition, 2021

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Development Team of Learner’s Activity Sheets

Writer Ermie P. Jamil

Editors: Kevin Hope Z. Salvaña

Regional Delia Alcantara
Team Relyn D. Raza PhD
Sherjune Cañete
Lilibeth Apat
Ace Michael B. Magalso

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UNIFIED LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Physical Science 11/12, Quarter 1, Week 1B

Synthesis of New Elements

Name: __________________________________ Section: _________________________

Most Essential Learning Competency

Explain how the concept of atomic number led to the synthesis of new elements
in the laboratory (S11/12PS-IIIb-11)

Learning Objectives
The learners are expected to:
1. identify the atomic number of an element;
2. discuss how the concept of atomic number led to the development of new
elements; and
3. write the nuclear reactions involved in the development of new elements.

Time allotment: 2 hours

Key Concepts

The classification of elements was developed by Dmitri Mendeleev based on their

atomic weight.

The atomic number is denoted by letter Z and is the number assigned to a particular
atom. Assigning a number is based on the number of protons present inside the
nucleus of the atom because the atom of every element has fixed amount of protons
and neutrons inside the nucleus.
Mass No. = No. of protons + No. of neutrons
3+4=7
A 7
ZX 3Li
Element Symbol
Atomic No. = No. of protons

Example: Carbon always has 6 protons in its nucleus. No other element has
atoms with 6 protons in it. That means, the number of protons in the nucleus
of an atom is like the identity of an element.

Retrieved from https://www.laalmeja.com/worlds-

thinnest-mirror-is-made-from-a-single-layer-of-
rubidium-atoms.html

Atomic number helps in defining the characteristics of an element. Note that:

 the no. of electrons = no. of protons in an atom

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 3

 the number of electrons determines the valency

 valency defines the reactive capacity of an atom

Characteristics/Properties of Elements
 Based on the reactivity of an element
 Reactivity depends on the electrons present in the atom
 The number of electrons is the same as the number of protons (atomic
numbers)

The periodic table classifies elements by atomic number. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cheminter/chapter/atomic-number/ on 17 August 2021

Henry Gwyn-Jeffreys Moseley was a researcher at Rutherford’s

laboratory who demonstrated that the atomic number, the
number of protons in an atom, determines most of the properties
of an element and noticed the following:
 The release of x-rays at unique frequencies was caused due
to the shooting of electrons to the elements which increased
by a certain amount when the “positive charge” of the chosen
element was higher.
 The elements’ atomic number, or place in the periodic table,
was distinctively tied to their “positive charge”, or the Henry Moseley. Retrieved from
number of protons they had. https://todayinsci.com/M/Moseley_
Henry/MoseleyHenry-
 His way of identifying the elements was by shooting electrons Quotations.htm on 15 August 2021

and by looking at x-rays became a useful tool in

distinguishing elements, which is now called x-ray
spectroscopy.

Ernest Rutherford (1919) successfully carried out a nuclear

transmutation reaction which is a process of transforming one
element or isotope to another element.

In the year 1925, there were four gaps in the periodic table that
corresponds to the atomic numbers 43, 61, 85, and 87. The
elements that have atomic numbers 43 and 85 were synthesized
via particle accelerator which is a device used to speed up the Ernest Rutherford. Retrieved from
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/c
protons to overcome the repulsion between the protons and the hemistry/1908/rutherford/biograph
ical/ on 15 August 2021
target atomic nuclei via magnetic and electrical fields that is used
to synthesize the new elements.

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 4

Quipper (2020). Physical Science. Nucleosynthesis: The Beginning: The Formation of Heavier Elements
During Star Formation and Evolution. Retrieved from shorturl.at/stFT6 on 14 June 2020

Cyclotron is a particle accelerator used for transmuting one element into another,
artificially, which produces high-energy particles upon hitting heavy target nuclei and
produce heavier nuclei. The first artificially made element was the bombarding of Mo
with deuteron which formed Technicium.
Mass Number
42 Protons + 54 Neutrons
96
42Mo + 21H → 97 1
43Tc + 0n

Atomic number = number of Protons

Ernest He synthesized the element with

Lawrence atomic number 43 using a linear
(1937) particle accelerator by bombarding
molybdenum (Z=42) with a fast-
moving neutrons that produced the
newly synthesized element named
Technetium (Tc) (from the Greek
word "technêtos" which means
Ernest Lawrence. Retrieved from
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1 “artificial”). It was the first man-
939/lawrence/biographical/ on 15 August
2021 made element.
Dale Corson, Bombarded atoms of bismuth
K. Mackenzie (Z=83) with fast-moving alpha
and Emilio particles in a cyclotron that
Segre (1940) produced an element with an
atomic number of 85 called
Astatine which was named from
Dale Corson. Retrieved from
the Greek word “astatos” which
Emilio Segre. Retrieved from
https://history.aip.org/phn/115010
14.html on 15 August 2021
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio
_Segr%C3%A8 on 15 August 2021
means unstable.
Chien Shiung Discovered two elements through
Wu, Emilio studies in radioactivity. The
Segre, and element-87 (Francium) was
Hans Bethe discovered as a breakdown product
of uranium while the Element-61
(Promethium) was discovered as a
decay product of the fission of
Hans Bethe. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han
s_Betheon 15 August 2021
Emilio Segre. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio
_Segr% C3%A8 on 15 August 2021
uranium.

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte

Chein Shiung Wu. Retrieved from

https://www.biography.com/scientist/chien-
shiung-wu on 15 August 2021
 5

Edwin He successfully developed the

McMillan element neptunium with an atomic
(early 1940) number of 93. He bombarded
uranium with neutrons with the
use of a particle accelerator and
created an element with an atomic
number 93 which he named
neptunium.
Edwin Mcmillan. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edwi
n-McMillanon 15 August 2021

Seaborg, Synthesized the element-94 and

McMillan, was named plutonium by
Kennedy, and bombarding uranium with
Wahl(end of deuterons (particles composed of a
1940) proton and a neutron) in a
cyclotron.

Seaborg. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gl
Edwin Mcmillan. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/biograp Plutonium (Z = 94)
hy/Edwin-McMillanon 15 August
enn_T._Seaborg on 15 August
238 1 239 0
92U + 0n → 93Np + −1β
2021 2021

239 239 0
93Np → 94Pu + −1β

Joseph Kennedy. Retrieved from Arthur Wahl. Retrieved from

https://www.atomicheritage.org/ https://source.wustl.edu/2006/04
profile/joseph-w-kennedy on 15 /wahl-professor-who-discovered-
August 2021 plutonium-89/ on 15 August 2021

Elements with atomic numbers that are greater than 92 (e.g. uranium) are called
transuranium elements that were discovered in the laboratory by means of nuclear
reactors or particle accelerators.
Neptunium (Z = 93) – synthesized by E.M. MacMillan in 1940
238 1 239 0
92U + 0n → 93Np + −1β
Nuclear decay reaction, also called as the radioactive decay, is a reaction in
which the nucleus emits radiation and transforms into a new nucleus. The
following are involved in the synthesis of transuranium elements:
 A reaction that emits helium-4 nucleus or alpha particle, 42𝛼 , is called alpha
decay.
A A−4 4
ZX → Z−2Y + 2α
 When a neutron is converted into a proton and emits an electron in the form of
a beta particle is known as beta decay. While its mass number remains the
same, the atomic number goes up by one.
A A 0
ZX → Z+1Y + −1β
 When the nucleus breaks into pieces into different atomic numbers and mass
numbers is known as spontaneous fission. This occurs in very massive nuclei.
254 118 132 4
98Cf → 46Pd + 52Te + 0n
Author: Jamil, Ermie P.
School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 6

Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/chemistryformajors/chapter/nuclear-equations-2/ on August 2021

Super heavy elements are elements with atomic numbers beyond 103 and are
produced by blasting the heavy nuclear targets with accelerated heavy projectiles.
Bohrium (Z = 107) – the projectile used was Cr
209 54 262 1
83Bi + 24Cr → 107Bh + 0n

Activity 1. Let’s Practice

Objective: Identify the atomic numbers of an element.
What you need: Paper and pen
What to do: Fill in the blanks with correct the atomic number. Write your answers in
a clean sheet of paper.

How many protons are in the following elements?

16
Example: 8𝑂 =8

209
a. 83Bi = __________

40
b. 20Ca = __________

106
c. 46Pd = __________

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 7

20
d. 10Ne = __________

14
e. 7N = __________

Activity 2: Check Your Understanding

Objective: Discuss how the concept of atomic number leads to the development of
new elements.
What you need: Paper and pen
What to do: In a separate sheet of paper, answer briefly the following questions:

238
92U + 10n → 239
93Np + 0
−1β

The synthesis of Neptunium by bombarding uranium with

deuterons (particles composed of a proton and a neutron)

Guide question:

From the illustration above, how does the concept of atomic number lead to the
synthesis of new element which is neptunium?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3. Try It
Objective: Write the nuclear reactions involved in the synthesis of new elements.
What you need: paper, pen
What to do:
A. Identify the following:

1. Plutonium-242 undergoes alpha decay. The reaction is represented as

242 b 4
aPu → 92U + 2α
What are the values of a and b in the balanced equation?

2. Fermium-256 undergoes ______________. The reaction is represented as

256 140 112 1
100Fm → 54Xe + 46Pd + 4 0n

B. Write the balanced equation that describes the given reactions.

256
3. The alpha decay of 103Lr

137
4. The beta production of 55Cs

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 8

Reflection: Atomic number is an identifier of an element. Give your one unique

identifiers that are commonly used by your friends. Do you think you can easily be
recognized using that identifier?

Example: Mole in your face.

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Scoring Rubric
5points Opinion is scientifically consistent with the concepts and
has no misconception.
4points Opinion is scientifically consistent with the concepts but
with minimal misconception.
3point Opinion is scientifically consistent with the concepts but
with misconception.

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 9

References for Learners:

Bantang, Johnrob Y., Ph.D., Dapul, Gian Karlo R., Salazar, Maria Kristina. Henry
Moseley, the Atomic Number, and Synthesis of Elements. Teaching Guide for
Senior High School. Physical Science. Published by the Commission on Higher
Education 2016, pages 58-63.

Canoy, Warlito Z. Lesson 6: Henry Moseley, the Atomic Number, and Synthesis of
Elements. Facebook. Accessed on 12 August 2021
https://www.facebook.com/notes/physical-science/lesson-6-henry-moseley-
the-atomic-number-and-synthesis-of-elements/1964109483605267/.
Quipper (2020). Nucleosynthesis: The Beginning: The Formation of
Heavier Elements During Star Formation and Evolution. Physical Science.
Retrieved from shorturl.at/stFT6 on 12 August 2021.
StudeerSnel B.V. The Nuclear Reactions Involved in the Synthesis of New Elements.
StoDocu 2020. Accessed on 12 August 2021
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/isabela-state-
university/accountancy/lecture-notes/the-nuclear-reactions-involved-in-the-
synthesis-of-new-elements/11451505/view

Answers Key:

55Cs →
4. 137 56Ba + −1e
137 0
3. 256Lr → 252Md + 24He
103 101

2. Spontaneous fission
1. The value of a is 92 and of b is 238.

Activity 3

Activity 2 (Answers may vary)

7 e.
10 d.
46 c.
20 b.
83 a.
Activity 1 (Possible Answers)

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte
 10

Author: Jamil, Ermie P.

School: Surigao del Norte National High School
Division: Surigao del Norte