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What is an Atom?
What is an atom? Everything that takes
up space called Matter (see
States of Matter). Matter has weight, volume and mass. Matter is
made up of tiny building blocks called Atoms. Atoms are tiny – at least
100 times smaller than the width of a
human hair. The purest type of atom is called an element.
Different types of atoms are called chemical elements, such as
the Element Neon or the
Element Gold. The exact size of the atom changes, depending on the
element, see Examples of
Elements.
What is an Atom? The Nucleus of an Atom
The nucleus is in
the middle of the atom and contains protons, neutrons and
electrons. These
smaller particles of the atom - the protons, neutrons and electrons - all
have different properties. Atoms must have equal numbers of
protons and electrons.
What is an Atom? - An Atom determines an Element
Atoms are composed of three kinds of smaller particles, called
protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons and neutrons are made
up of even smaller particles called quarks. The number of
protons, the number of neutrons and the number of electrons an
atom has determines what the element it is.
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Atoms are composed of 3
kinds of small particles: protons, neutrons and electrons
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Atoms must have
equal numbers of protons and electrons
What is an Atom? Protons
Atoms of a
particular element contain the same number of protons. Protons
are much larger and heavier than electrons and have a positive
charge. Protons are positively charged and located in the
nucleus together with the neutrons.
What is an Atom? Electrons
Atoms of a
particular element contain the same number of electrons.
Electrons are tiny, very light particles that have a negative
electrical charge. Electrons are negatively charged, circling
the nucleus, making it a neutral, orbital particle.
What is an Atom? - Neutrons?
Neutrons are large and heavy like protons,
however neutrons have no electrical charge.
What is an Atom? - Protons, Electrons and Neutrons
Atoms are
composed of 3 kinds of small particles: protons, neutrons and
electrons.
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Protons have a positive charge
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Electrons have a negative charge
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Neutrons have no electrical charge
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What is an Atom?
Protons, Electrons and Neutrons |
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Particle |
Charge |
Location |
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Proton |
+1 |
Nucleus of Atom |
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Electron |
-1 |
Orbital |
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Neutron |
0 |
Nucleus of Atom |
What is an Atom? - Molecules and Atoms
Molecules
and Atoms. A molecule is the smallest amount of a chemical
substance that can exist. A molecule is capable of independent
existence and can consist of one or more atoms, see
Molecules and Atoms.
What is an Atom? Related Terms
The
Atomic Number is
the number of protons in the atom, see
Periodic Table Number.
The Atomic Mass,
or atomic weight, is the average mass of atoms (protons and
neutrons) of an element, see . Atoms of an element that have
differing numbers of neutrons (but a constant atomic number) are
termed isotopes. Element Isotopes
have the same number of protons (and electrons) but different
numbers of neutrons in the atom of an element.
What is an Atom?
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