2.1 — atomic structure

Question 1

what are the three fundamental subatomic particles present in an atom?

Answer 1

electrons, protons and neutrons

Question 2

what is the collective name for protons and neutrons?

Answer 2

nucleons

Question 3

where are nucleons located?

Answer 3

in the atom’s nucleus

Question 4

what part of an atom is small and dense, containing the majority of its mass?

Answer 4

the nucleus

Question 5

where are the electrons located?

Answer 5

in shells/orbitals orbiting the nucleus

Question 6

what is the charge of a proton?

Answer 6

positive

Question 7

what is the charge of a neutron?

Answer 7

no charge/neutral

Question 8

what is the charge of an electron?

Answer 8

negative

Question 9

although electrons occupy a _____ region of space, most of an atom’s volume is actually _____ _____. what are the missing terms?

Answer 9

large/empty space

Question 10

how are the properties of subatomic particles expressed and why?

Answer 10

relative mass and charge are used to express the properties of subatomic particles as the true values are extremely small

Question 11

what are the relative masses of the subatomic particles?

Answer 11

proton — 1
neutron — 1
electron — 0.0005 or 1/2000

Question 12

what are the relative charges of the subatomic particles?

Answer 12

proton — +1
neutron — 0
electron — -1

Question 13

what do nuclear symbols provide?

Answer 13

a concise way to represent the composition of an atom

Question 14

what is mass number?

Answer 14

the total number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus

Question 15

what is the atomic number?

Answer 15

the number of protons in the nucleus, which uniquely identifies the element.

Question 16

what is the symbol of mass number?

Answer 16

A

Question 17

what is the symbol for atomic number?

Answer 17

Z

Question 18

how do you determine the number of protons in an atom?

Answer 18

the number of protons is equal to the atomic number (Z)

Question 19

how do you determine the number of neutrons in an atom?

Answer 19

the number of neutrons is calculated by subtracting the atomic number (Z) from the mass number (A)

Question 20

how do you determine the number of electrons in a neutral atom?

Answer 20

in a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the proton/atomic number (Z)

Question 21

what are ions?

Answer 21

ions are atoms that have gained or lost electrons, resulting in an overall positive or negative charge

Question 22

what are anions?

Answer 22

anions are negative ions — atoms with more electrons than protons, causing an overall negative charge

Question 23

what are cations?

Answer 23

cations are positive ions — atoms with fewer electrons than protons, causing an overall positive charge

Question 24

how do you determine the number of electrons in an ion?

Answer 24

the number of electrons in an ion is calculated by subtracting the ion’s charge from the proton/atomic number (Z)