Atoms

Question 1

What are atoms?

Answer 1

Atoms are tiny building blocks that make up all materials

Question 2

How many types of atoms are there?

Answer 2

118

Question 3

What are elements?

Answer 3

Elements are substances that are made up of one type of atoms.

Question 4

What are compounds?

Answer 4

Compounds are substances that are made up of different types of atoms.

Question 5

What are the structures of atoms?

Answer 5

The structures of atoms include 3 subatomic particles (smaller particles) which are protons, neutrons, and electrons. The neutrons and protons sit at the center of the atom whilst the electrons circle around the nucleus (what the neutrons and protons at the center are called)

Question 6

How do you determine the atomic and mass number of an atom?

Answer 6

The atomic number of an atom is determined by the number of protons in an atom. The mass number of an atom is determined by the number of protons added to the number of neutrons in an atom.

Question 7

Is the number of electrons the same as the number of protons?

Answer 7

Yes

Question 8

What are ions? How does a cation and anion form?

Answer 8

Ions are atoms that have lost or gained electrons and have now become electrically charged particles. A cation is when an atom loses electrons, so it becomes positively charged. An anion is when an atom gains electrons and becomes negatively charged. (Cation because cats are positive, anion because onions are negative)

Question 9

What is the difference between the chemical symbol for an atom and an ion?

Answer 9

The difference is that ions have the symbol of their charge (+ for positive, - for negative) whilst an atom does not.