The Particle Puzzle
Just how tiny are atoms and molecules?
Setting up the bench…
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Smell perfume drift across a room. The scent is carried by particles far too small to see — and inside each particle are even tinier atoms.
Predict first
Which of these is the smallest?
All matter is made of incredibly tiny particles. Many particles are molecules, and each molecule is built from even smaller atoms — far too small to see with a school microscope.
- A single atom — correct
- A grain of sand
- A drop of water
What you do
Arrange these from the biggest down to the smallest.
Check yourself
A molecule is made of…
Atoms join together to form molecules — atoms are the smaller building blocks.
Can you see a single atom with a school microscope?
Atoms are millions of times too small to see with an ordinary microscope.
- one or more atoms joined together — correct
- many grains of sand
- tiny drops of water
- No — atoms are far too small — correct
- Yes, easily
- Yes, if it is brightly coloured