How to Make a Small 3D Atom Model

Co-authored by Justine Borzumato

Last Updated: September 18, 2023 Fact Checked

3D atom models are a common science project and craft made to help understand how certain atoms work. A 3D atom model can be useful to demonstrate in a classroom or use to explain when giving a lesson about atoms. Atom models aren't too hard to build and this article shares a few different atoms that you can create.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Building a Calcium Atom Model

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You will need glue, scissors, cardstock, string, 40 large craft balls (20 of one color for the protons and the other 20 for the neutrons that's a different color), and 20 small craft balls for the electrons.
Glue both colored craft balls into a ball, alternating between the protons and neutrons as you glue.This will resemble the nucleus.^{[1]
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Cut out a small, a medium, a large, and an extra-large ring using the scissors.^{[2]
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Using the string, tie all the rings in a concentric circle around the nucleus.
Glue two small craft balls to the small circle, eight on the medium circle, eight to the large circle, and then two to the extra-large circle. These will resemble all the electrons on the atom.
You can now show off and display your 3D model of the atom calcium.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating an Oxygen Atom Model

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You will need 16 medium-sized polystyrene balls, a paint brush, three different paint colors, 8 small polystyrene balls, strong craft glue, an eye hook, wire, duct tape, and a fishing line.
Use the paint brush to brush the paint over only 8 of the medium sized balls.^{[3]
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Research source} It's recommended to use the color blue as these balls will resemble the protons. Allow the balls to dry until they are no longer wet.
Repeat the same process with the other 8 balls.^{[4]
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Research source} Paint the balls another color, preferably red since this is resembling the neutrons, and set them aside to allow it to dry.
Using the paint brush, paint the 8 small balls another color, preferably green to resemble the electrons.^{[5]
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Research source} Set the balls aside to dry until they are no longer wet.
Using the strong craft glue, glue both different colored medium-sized balls together to resemble a nucleus, alternating between the protons and neutrons as you glue.^{[6]
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Gently form the wire into hoops to resemble the atom. Secure the wire and atom together using the duct tape.^{[8]
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You can now show off and display your 3D model of the atom oxygen.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Forming a Neon Atom Model

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You will need 6 wooden craft sticks, strong craft glue, 10 medium-sized Styrofoam blue craft balls, 10 medium-sized Styrofoam red craft balls, and 10 small yellow Styrofoam craft balls.
Using the strong craft glue, glue both different colored medium-sized balls (the protons and neutrons) together to resemble a nucleus, alternating between the protons and neutrons as you glue.
Leave two of the sticks to stand on the ground so the model can stand itself.^{[9]
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On each craft stick, poke the small yellow balls to resemble electrons.
You can now show off and display your 3D model of the atom neon.

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Question

How can I make an accurate animal cell model?

Justine Borzumato
Biology Teacher
Justine Borzumato is a Biology Teacher at the Wardlaw+Hartridge School in Edison, New Jersey. Justine has been teaching biology since 2015 and has taught courses including AP Biology, Honors Biology, Epidemiology, and Anatomy and Physiology. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Science in Biology from New York University.

Justine Borzumato

Biology Teacher

Expert Answer

Make sure you're laying out all of the additional components that an animal cell has that a plant cell does not have, or you don't want to add something extra that a plant cell has, like a chloroplast. Animal cells don't have that. So you don't want to add that in, and you don't want to miss all of the special organelles, which would be the endoplasmic reticulum, the nucleus, the smooth and the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, the lysosomes, the vesicles, and all of those additional components. Another tip is that when making a model, you can typically only put one of each thing in, and with models, you always have to be aware that it's not going to be exactly how it is in a real animal cell. Obviously, we have more than one mitochondria in an animal cell, yet in a model, typically, we're just showing one.

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How can I make a rubidium atom model?

Community Answer

This would be more complicated, as it has 37 protons/electrons and 48 neutrons. Try the calcium structure. Make the nucleus the same way by gluing the protons and neutrons all together. Now, you need to cut out the rings for the energy levels for the electrons, unless you want your atom to be a plasma. You will need five, of course, each one bigger than the last. Glue two electrons in the first one, eight in the second one, 18 in the third one, eight in the fourth one, and finally, glue one in the fifth one. Now attach the string from which you will hang it from, make the information card, and voila, you're finished!

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How do I make a 3D model of an iron atom?

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Try using the same type of model as either the neon or oxygen, but just adjust the number of wires/dowels/balls you'll need as the amount of energy levels/subatomic particles will probably be different.

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You can also use colored marshmallows instead of craft balls when making your model, but do note that the marshmallows will spoil over time

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