atom structure

Question 1

What is an atom?

Answer 1

An atom is the smallest part of an element that can exist. They consist of electrons surrounding a nucleus that contain protons and neutrons.

Question 2

What is a molecule?

Answer 2

A group of two or more atoms chemically joined together forming an identifiable unit which retains the properties and composition of the substance.

Question 3

What is an atomic number?

Answer 3

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which is characteristic of a chemical element and determines its place in the periodic table.

Question 4

What is an mass number?

Answer 4

The total number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus.

Question 5

What is a isotopes?

Answer 5

Atoms of the same element contain the same number of protons and electrons but a different number of neutrons. Therefore, they have the same atomic number but a different mass number.

Question 6

What is relative atomic mass?

Answer 6

Weighted average mass of one atom of an element, taking into account the abundance of all the isotopes of that element. It is measured as a ratio 1/12 of the mass of an atom of carbon-12.