Atoms Flashcards
What are all substances made out of ?
All substances are made of atoms
What do atoms contain ?
Atoms contain :
Protons
Neutrons
Electrons
Where is the nucleus in the atom ?
The nucleus is in the middle of the atom
What does the nucleus contain ?
The nucleus contains protons and neutrons
What charge does the nucleus have ?
The nucleus has a positive charge because of the protons
Describe how protons are charged
Protons are heavy and positively charged
Describe how neutrons are charged
Neutrons are heavy and neutral
Describe how electrons are charged ?
Electrons are tiny and negatively charged
What does the volume of the electrons determine?
The volume of their orbits determines the size of the atom
How do electrons move around ?
Electrons move around the nucleus in electron shells
How much do electrons weigh ?
Electrons have virtually no mass
What charge do atoms have ?
Atoms are neutral they have no charge
This is because they have the same number of protons as electrons
The charge on the electrons is the same size as the charge on the protons but opposite, so the charges cancel out
What is an ion ?
An ion is an atom or a group of atoms that have either gained or lost electrons
In an ion, the number of protons…
doesn’t equal the number of electrons. This means it has an overall charge
For example, an ion with a 2- charge, has two more electrons than protons
What does the atomic number tell you ?
The atomic number tells you how many protons there are
