Neon, a noble gas with atomic number 10, contains 10 electrons, 10 protons and 10 neutrons. This hands‑on model helps students visualise that simple yet essential structure.
Spray‑paint the foam balls in three distinct colours to represent the nucleus, inner electrons and outer valence electrons. Separate the spheres into three groups on newspaper: one large ball, two small balls and the remaining eight small balls. Allow at least two hours for the paint to dry before handling. Work in a well‑ventilated space and wear gloves if desired.
Using a black permanent marker, write the element symbol Ne on the large sphere. Add the proton and neutron counts: P: 10, N: 10. This sphere now represents the atom’s nucleus.
Cut a length of craft wire to form a ring just outside the nucleus. Thread the two inner‑electron spheres through the wire, then use short pieces of cooking skewer to connect each electron to the nucleus, giving a stable inner shell.
Repeat the wiring technique for the eight outer electrons. Attach them to the nucleus with longer skewers—at least twice the length used for the inner shell—to reflect the increased distance of valence electrons from the core.
