Structure of an atom

Question 1

Describe how Dalton’s ideas about atoms have changed.

Answer 1

Originally Dalton thought that atoms were the smallest things, and they were hard undividable spheres, but now we have learned there are also electrons, protons and neutrons

Question 2

Describe how the subatomic particles are arranged in an atom.

Answer 2

The Protons and neutrons are near the nucleus and the electrons float around it.

Question 3

Explain how atoms of different elements are different.

Answer 3

They are different because they all have a different number of protons

Question 4

Recall the charges and relative masses of the three subatomic particles.

Answer 4

Proton has a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have 0 charge and are neutral

Question 5

Explain why all atoms have no overall charge.

Answer 5

This is because the electrons and protons cancel each other out and the neutrons are neutral so they don’t change anything.

Question 6

Describe how the size of an atom compares to the size of its nucleus.

Answer 6

The atom is much larger than the nucleas