Worksheet on static electricity and atomic charge, showing student answers and corrections.

1. Draw a picture of your understanding of the structure of an atom. What does it look like? What is inside of it? Express what you know using a well-labeled diagram.
- A labeled diagram of an atom should show a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, with electrons orbiting around the nucleus in energy levels or shells.

2. The charged parts of the atom are the protons and the electrons. The protons are positively charged and the electrons are negatively charged. The neutrons are not charged and thus will not be of importance in this unit.

3. An electrically neutral atom is an atom which
- c. has a balance of protons and electrons (the same number of each)

4. An electrically charged atom (sometimes referred to as an ion) can be distinguished from an electrically neutral atom in that the charged atom (ion)
- c. has an imbalance of protons and electrons (unequal numbers of these)

5. The diagram at the right depicts the eight electrons and eight protons in an oxygen atom.
a. Explain what must happen in order for an oxygen atom to become negatively charged.
- The oxygen atom must accept more electrons.
b. Explain what must happen in order for an oxygen atom to become positively charged.
- The oxygen atom must lose electrons.