Electrons are found in areas called shells. Shells are sometimes called energy levels. Shells surround the nucleus. Electrons are like the moon. They orbit (go around) atoms. Electrons, like the moon, are always moving. They spin very quickly around the nucleus (the center) of an atom. As the electrons go around, they can move in any direction, but they have to stay in their shell. Electrons are constantly spinning in their shells, or orbitals. Their shells are specific distances from the nucleus. If an electron is in the first shell, it’s always closer to the nucleus than electrons in the second shell. Energy levels are a little like the steps of a staircase. You can stand on one step or another, but not in between the steps. In order to get to the next step, you have to use a lot of energy. When chemicals are heated up, the electrons receive energy and can use that energy to go up the staircase. This produces light. The color of light depends on how many steps the electron went up. Eventually, the electron goes back to the step (shell) it was first at. Each chemical has a different number of electrons and different energy levels. Because of this, each element gives off different colors when
Electrons are found in areas called shells. Shells are sometimes called energy levels. Shells surround the nucleus. Electrons are like the moon. They orbit (go around) atoms. Electrons, like the moon, are always moving. They spin very quickly around the nucleus (the center) of an atom. As the electrons go around, they can move in any direction, but they have to stay in their shell. Electrons are constantly spinning in their shells, or orbitals. Their shells are specific distances from the nucleus. If an electron is in the first shell, it’s always closer to the nucleus than electrons in the second shell. Energy levels are a little like the steps of a staircase. You can stand on one step or another, but not in between the steps. In order to get to the next step, you have to use a lot of energy. When chemicals are heated up, the electrons receive energy and can use that energy to go up the staircase. This produces light. The color of light depends on how many steps the electron went up. Eventually, the electron goes back to the step (shell) it was first at. Each chemical has a different number of electrons and different energy levels. Because of this, each element gives off different colors when