How To Build A Mercury (Hg) Model Out Of Foam Balls

Mercury, a silvery liquid, is one of the most familiar of elements. As a metal that forms compounds easily when combined with other elements, mercury is used in scientific instruments like thermometers and barometers, in electrical switches and even in dental fillings. Despite its many uses, mercury is toxic to humans and can cause many health concerns following exposure. Mercury's properties and uses stem from its elemental structure. You can learn more about this structure by building a model of mercury using foam balls.

Step 1

Cut all of the foam balls in half, so that you have two equal-sized hemispheres from each ball.

Step 2

Paint the half balls different colors to show the different parts of the mercury atom. You should have 80 halves painted to depict protons, 80 halves painted to show electrons and 121 halves painted as neutrons.

Step 3

Glue the protons and neutrons in a cluster at the center of your poster board. This is the nucleus of your mercury atom. Make sure the half balls are placed tightly together, with no spaces in between.

Step 4

Use the marker to draw six concentric circles around your nucleus. These are the mercury atom's six electron energy levels. Make the width of each section about half an inch wider than your foam balls.

Step 5

Glue the electron half balls in the energy level circles. Place two half balls in the first, innermost energy level circle. Put eight half balls in the second circle, 18 half balls in the third circle, 32 half balls in the fourth circle, 18 half balls in the fifth circle, and two half balls in the sixth, outermost circle.