Atomic Structure

Question 1

What is an atom?

Answer 1

The smallest part of an element that can still be recognised as that element

Question 2

Name the three subatomic particles

Answer 2

Protons, neutrons, electrons

Question 3

State the masses of the subatomic particles

Answer 3

Protons: 1, neutrons: 1, electrons: 0

Question 4

State the relative charges of the subatomic particles

Answer 4

Protons: +1, neutrons: 0, electrons: -1

Question 5

How are the subatomic particles arranged in an atom?

Answer 5

Protons and neutrons in the nucleus, electrons orbiting in shells

Question 6

What were Dalton’s atoms?

Answer 6

Small, solid spheres

Question 7

What is the plum pudding model of the atom?

Answer 7

A ball of positive charge with negative electrons studded into it

Question 8

What did the gold foil experiment prove?

Answer 8

That atoms have dense nucleuses with a positive charge

Question 9

How are the subatomic particles arranged in an atom?

Answer 9

Protons and neutrons in the nucleus, electrons orbiting in shells

Question 10

What is the plum pudding model of the atom?

Answer 10

A ball of positive charge with negative electrons studded into it

Question 11

What did the gold foil experiment prove?

Answer 11

That atoms have dense nucleus with a positive charge

Question 12

What did Chadwick discover?

Answer 12

The neutron

Question 13

What did Bohr’s experiments show?

Answer 13

That electrons are in specific shells

Question 14

What is a molecule?

Answer 14

More than one atom joined together, can be an element or compound

Question 15

What are electron shells also known as?

Answer 15

Energy levels

Question 16

What is the approximate size of an atom in m? Give your answer in standard form

Answer 16

1 x 10-10 m

Question 17

What is the approximate size of an atom’s nucleus in m? Give your answer in standard form

Answer 17

1 x 10-14 m

Question 18

What is the maximum number of electrons in the first three shells?

Answer 18

2, 8, 8

Question 19

Why do atoms have an overall neutral charge?

Answer 19

An equal number of positive protons and negative electrons, which cancel each other out

Question 20

What is the atomic number of an atom?

Answer 20

The number of protons in an atom

Question 21

What is the mass number of an atom?

Answer 21

The number of protons + the number of neutrons in an atom

Question 22

How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?

Answer 22

Mass number - atomic number

Question 23

What are isotopes?

Answer 23

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons