Color the entire s-orbital block yellow. These are all of the Group 1A and 2A elements.
Color the entire d-orbital block gray. These are all of the Group B, or transition elements.
Color the entire p-orbital block red. These are all of the Group 3A-8A elements.
Color the entire f-orbital block blue. These are the Lanthanide and Actinide series elements.
Color in the Periodic Table Below following the instructions below.
C.6DE: Atomic Structure
Atomic Structure and Nuclear Chemistry
1 C.4ABD: Physical and Chemical Changes and Properties
Matter and the Periodic Table
You will be working with the elements from the first three periods of the Periodic Table to
gain a better understanding of the electrons that may be found in the s and p orbitals of
atoms. As you place stickers on onion layers, write the corresponding electron orbital over
each element on your Periodic Table on the other page of this Engage Student Handout.
Procedure:
1.  Put on your safety gloves to avoid absorbing the onion’s strong odor.
2. 
Carefully peel the onion layers apart and set them on the desk. Peel the layers down to
the smallest round layer. You will need 5 layers to work with.
3. 
Place 1 sticker on the first, smallest layer of the onion to represent the electron from
hydrogen and write 1s1 on this sticker. Then write a 1s1 over hydrogen on the Periodic
Table.
4. 
Next, place another sticker on this inner layer to represent the electron from helium and
write 1s2 on this sticker. Then write a 1s2 over helium on your Periodic Table.
5. 
Now, the s orbital in the first period is full. S orbitals can only hold 2 electrons.
6. 
Take the next layer of onion and place it over the first layer that represents the first
period s orbital. This second layer will represent the second period s orbital.
7. 
Place 1 sticker on the second onion layer to represent the electron from lithium and
write 2s1 on this sticker. Then write a 2s1 over lithium on your Periodic Table.
8. 
Place another sticker on the second onion layer to represent the electron from beryllium
and write 2s2 on this sticker. Then write a 2s2 over beryllium on your Periodic Table.
9. 
Place 1 sticker on the third onion layer to represent the electron from boron and write
2p1 on this sticker. Write 2p1 over boron on your Periodic Table.
10.  Place another sticker on the third onion layer to represent the electron from carbon and
write 2p2 on this sticker. Then write 2p2 over carbon on your Periodic Table.
11.  Continue this pattern on the third onion layer until you have written 2p6 on a sticker
and over neon on your Periodic Table.
12.  Now, the p orbital in the second period is full. P orbitals can hold 6 electrons.
13.  Follow this pattern to add stickers to the fourth and fifth layers of your onion while
filling in the third period of the Periodic Table.
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