Atomic Structure

Question 1

What are three fundamental particles that make up an atom?

Answer 1

Protons, neutrons and electrons

Question 2

Where are all the fundamental particles of an atom found?

Answer 2

Protons and neutrons are found within the nucleus
Electrons orbit around the nucleus in electron shells

Question 3

What is the charge and mass of a proton?
What is the charge and mass of a neutron?
What is the charge and mass of an electron?

Answer 3

Protons have a +1 charge and have a mass of 1

Neutrons have a no charge and have a mass of 1

Electrons have a -1 charge and a mass of 1/1840 (very small)

Question 4

What is the atomic mass defined as?

Answer 4

The atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12th of the mass of one carbon - 12 atom

Question 5

What is the number of protons called?

Answer 5

The number of protons is called the atomic (proton) number

Question 6

What is the relative atomic mass?

Answer 6

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

Question 7

Define an isotope, outline a feature of an isotope

Answer 7

An isotope is an atom with the same atomic (proton) number but a different mass number (neutrons)
Isotopes have the same chemical properties as they have the same number of electrons

Question 8

What makes an atom neutral?

Answer 8

An atom is neutral when the number of protons and electrons are the same

Question 9

What are ions?

Answer 9

Ions are species in which the proton and electron number are not the same, and have an overall positive or negative charge

Question 10

What is the relative molecular mass?

Answer 10

The relative molecular mass of a molecule is the sum of the relative atomic masses of its constituent atoms

Eg. H2O = (1.0 x 2) + 16.0 = 18.0§