Science / Year 10 / Science Understanding / Chemical sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

The atomic structure and properties of elements are used to organise them in the Periodic Table (ACSSU186)

Elaborations
  • recognising that elements in the same group of the periodic table have similar properties
  • describing the structure of atoms in terms of electron shells
  • explaining how the electronic structure of an atom determines its position in the periodic table and its properties
  • investigating the chemical activity of metals
ScOT terms

Properties of matter,  Atoms

Interactive

Build an atom

This is an interactive resource that allows students to build an atom out of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and see how the element, charge, and mass change. Students can view the atoms using the electron shell model or cloud model. A small set of games give students the opportunity to review their understanding of how ...

Interactive

Sites2See: Light and Matter

Links to resources to explore fundamental questions about light and matter and the application of the physics of light and matter to the past, the future and to space. Includes a quick quiz, links to additional DEC NSW physics resources and to the International Science School at the University of Sydney.

Video

AERO Ochre Science Year 10 Unit 2 - Atomic structures

In this sequence of 15 lessons students will learn about atoms and how they build to make elements and compounds. The unit also explores the periodic table and how elements react to each other.

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Bunyip gold nugget, 1972

This is a gold nugget known as the 'Bunyip nugget'. It weighs 50 ounces (1.55 kg). It was found in the early 1970s by a farmer while ploughing near Bridgewater to the west of Bendigo in Victoria, and was purchased by the National Museum of Victoria (now Museum Victoria) in 1978 for $40,000.

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Graptolite fossils - item 1

This is a colour photograph of graptolites fossilised in rock. These are specimens of 'Pendeograptus fruticosus'. The figures visible on the rock are cataloguing numbers.

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Ethanol molecule

This is a colour image of a model of a molecule of ethanol, CH₃CH₂OH. In this model, atoms are represented by coloured spheres held together by grey rods that represent covalent bonds. The molecule contains two carbon atoms (the black spheres), one oxygen atom (the red sphere) and six hydrogen atoms (the grey-white spheres).

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Bromine monofluoride molecule

This is a colour image of a model of a molecule of bromine monofluoride, BrF. In this model, atoms are represented by coloured spheres held together by grey rods, representing covalent bonds. The bromine monofluoride molecule contains one bromine atom (the brown sphere) and one fluorine atom (the blue-grey sphere).

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Gastropod fossil

This is a colour photograph of a fossil of a gastropod 'Tenagodus occlusus', showing the spiralled shell.

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Male and female thylacines, 1841

This is a 36 cm x 55 cm hand-coloured lithograph of a pair of thylacines (‘Thylacinus cynocephalus’), commonly called Tasmanian tigers, against a background of small bushes and an open plain.

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Oxygen molecule

This is a colour image of a model of a molecule of oxygen, O₂. In this model, two oxygen atoms are represented by red spheres held together by grey rods that represent a double covalent bond.

Online

Secondary science: visual representations

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'visual representations' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers assist students to understand ...

Interactive

Exploring atoms: atom structure

See how scientists such as Ernest Rutherford have investigated the structure of atoms. Explore possible models. Fire charged particles at atoms and find which model best fits the results. This learning object is one in a series of six objects. Three of the objects are also packaged as a combined learning object.

Interactive

Genes

See how genes and genetic engineering work. Build models of DNA, and work out how it is copied as cells divide. Discover how the codes carried in the genes are copied and used to build proteins. See how gene splicing can be used to benefit human lives. For example, model the transfer of a human gene into bacteria, so they ...

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Phar Lap's skeleton

This is the skeleton of Phar Lap, the famous racehorse, which was born in New Zealand, raced mostly in Australia and died in unexplained circumstances in the United States in 1932.

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Thylacine pup

This is a colour photograph of a preserved underdeveloped thylacine pup ('Thylacinus cynocephalus'). It is a museum specimen preserved in a glass container. Museum cataloguing labels are visible.

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Zygomaturus fossil skeleton

This is a colour photograph of a 'Zygomaturus tasmanicus' fossil skeleton. The skeleton is a museum specimen and has been braced with metal rods. It is displayed in a standing posture.

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Graptolite fossils - item 5

This is a colour photograph of a graptolite fossilised in rock. This species is 'Clonograptus persistens'.

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Trilobite fossil

This is a colour photograph of a fossil trilobite of the genus 'Kolihapeltis'.

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Hydrogen molecule

This is a colour image of a model of a molecule of hydrogen, H₂. In this model, two hydrogen atoms are represented by grey-white spheres held together by a grey rod that represents a covalent bond.

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Iodine molecule

This is a colour image of a model of a molecule of iodine, I₂. In this model, two iodine atoms are represented by deep red spheres held together by a grey rod that represents a covalent bond.