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Zooming Into Air: Exploring the Composition and Properties of Air Molecules

This educational project by Michigan State University explores the composition and properties of air molecules at different scales. From zooming into clouds and water droplets to examining individual water and air molecules, students will learn about the nature of atoms and molecules in the atmosphere. The project also includes activities to test understanding and encourage further inquiry.

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Zooming Into Air: Exploring the Composition and Properties of Air Molecules

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  1. Carbon: Transformations in Matter and Energy Environmental Literacy ProjectMichigan State University Systems and Scale UnitActivity 2.3 Zooming Into Air

  2. Unit map You are here

  3. Does air have mass? Is it empty? OR Is it full?

  4. Zoom into Air Scale: 103 meters = 1000 meters

  5. Clouds contain air... Zoom into Air Scale: 10-3 meters = 0.001 meters Scale: 10-2 meters = 0.01 meters Scale: 101 meters = 10 meters Scale: 100 meters = 1 meters Scale: 103 meters = 1000 meters Scale: 102 meters = 100 meters Scale: 10-1 meters = 0.1 meters

  6. ...and water droplets Clouds contain air... Scale: 10-5 meters = 0.00 001 meters Scale: 10-3 meters = 0.001 meters Scale: 10-4 meters = 0.0 001 meters

  7. Zooming in to the edge of a water droplet ...and water droplets Scale: 10-6 meters = 0.0 001 meters Scale: 10-5 meters = 0.001 meters

  8. Showing individual water and air molecules Zooming in to the edge of a water droplet Scale: 10-6 meters = 0.000 001 meters Scale: 10-7 meters = 0.0 000 001 meters Scale: 10-8 meters = 0.00 000 001 meters

  9. Water molecules inside the drop Showing individual water and air molecules …. we still see water! Scale: 10-8 meters = 0.00 000 001 meters Scale: 10-9 meters = 0.000 000 001 meters

  10. Different kinds of molecules in air Oxygen O2 Water H2O Nitrogen N2 Carbon dioxide CO2 Atomic-molecular Scale

  11. What’s in our atmosphere’s air?

  12. What is the difference between an atom and a molecule?

  13. Atoms and Molecules in Air • Oxygen molecules (O2) are made of 2 oxygen atoms • Nitrogen molecules (N2) are made of 2 nitrogen atoms • Water molecules (H2O) are made of 2 hydrogen and 1 oxygen atom • Carbon dioxide molecules (CO2) are made of 1 carbon and 2 oxygen atoms

  14. Three Facts about Atoms • Atoms last forever (except in nuclear changes). • Atoms make up the mass of all materials. • Atoms are bonded to other atoms in molecules.

  15. Apply the Three Facts About Atoms to Air • Atoms last forever (except in nuclear changes). • Will the carbon atoms that exist today in CO2 still be carbon atoms in a million years? • Will the CO2 molecules that exist today still be CO2 molecules in a million years?

  16. Apply the Three Facts About Atoms to Air 2. Atoms make up the mass of all materials. • Does air have mass?

  17. Apply the Three Facts About Atoms to Air 3. Atoms are bonded to other atoms in molecules. • What are some important atoms in air? • What are some important molecules in air?

  18. Check Your Understanding • Do you think that people are made of atoms? Do the three facts about atoms apply to the atoms that we are made of? • Do you think that ethanol is made of atoms? Do the three facts about atoms apply to the atoms that ethanol is made of? • Do you think that flames contain atoms? Do the three facts about atoms apply to the atoms in flames?

  19. Learning Tracking Tool • For the activity “Zooming Into Air,” discuss with your classmates what you figured out will help you to answer the unit driving question, “what happens when ethanol burns?” Record your ideas in the column “What We Figured Out.” • Discuss questions you now have related to the unit driving question and record them in the column “What We are Asking Now.”

  20. Exit Ticket • Conclusions • What are three facts about atoms? • Predictions • Why do we study atoms and molecules even though they are too small to see?

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