atomic structure

Question 1

what do atoms consist of

Answer 1

Atoms consist of three basic particles: PROTONS, ELECTRONS, and NEUTRONS. The nucleus (centre) of the atom contains the protons (positively charged) and the neutrons (no charge)

Question 2

what are the charges

Answer 2

Protons and electrons are ‘charged’. Each proton has a +1 charge and each electron has -1 charge. Neutrons have 0 charge… they are ‘neutral’!

Question 3

what are the relative masses

Answer 3

A proton and a neutron each have a relative mass of ‘1’.. An atom will have more mass overall if it has more protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Question 4

What is in an element?

Answer 4

There are ways we know how many of each subatomic particle an atom has.

The number of protons tells us which element an atom is.

The overall charge of an atom is NEUTRAL so there must be the same number of electrons as protons

(Positive protons cancel out negative electrons)

Question 5

Atomic Mass and Atomic Number

Answer 5

The atomic number is the number of protons.
It also tells us the number of electrons.
The atomic mass is the number of protons and neutrons COMBINED.
To find just then neutrons you must do a calculation:

Atomic mass - Atomic number = neutrons.