The Atom

Question 1

• what are atoms made up of

Answer 1

protons neutrons and electrons

Question 2

• what are protons and nuetrons known as

Answer 2

protons and nuetrons are known as nucleons

Question 3

• describe the inside of every atom

Answer 3

inside every atom theres a nucleus containing protons and neutrons. Orbiting this core are the electrons.

Question 4

• due to how small an atoms charge and mass is, how do we talk about its properties

Answer 4

their charges and masses are so tiny that its often easier to talk about their relative charge and relative mass.

Question 5

• what is the charge and mass of a proton

Answer 5

Charge (coulombs, C) : +1.60 x10^-19

Mass (Kg): 1.67 x 10^-27

Question 6

• what is the charge and mass of a neutron

Answer 6

Charge (Coulombs, C): 0

Mass (Kg): 1.67 x 10^-27

Question 7

• what is the charge and mass of an electron

Answer 7

Charge (coulombs, C):-1.60 x 10^-19

Mass(Kg): 9.11x10^-31

Question 8

• what is the relative charge and relative mass of a proton

Answer 8

relative charge: +1

relative Mass: 1

Question 9

• what is the relative charge and mass of a neutron

Answer 9

relative charge 0

relative mass 1

Question 10

• what is the relative charge and relative mass of an electron

Answer 10

relative charge -1

relative mass 0.0005

Question 11

• Define the proton number

Answer 11

the proton number is sometimes called the atomic number, and has the symbol Z.

Z is just the number of protons in the nucleus

Question 12

• what defines the element

Answer 12

its the proton number that defines the element- no two elements will have the same proton number

Question 13

• what is a neutral atom

Answer 13

atoms with an equal number of electrons and protons

Question 14

• what is an atom called with a different number of electrons to protons

Answer 14

a particle with a different number of electrons to protons is called an ion

Question 15

• what does an elements reactions and chemical behavior depend upon

Answer 15

the elements reactions and chemical behavior depends upon the number of electrons.

so the proton number tells you a lot abouts its chemical properties

Question 16

• what does the proton number tell us about an atoms properties

Answer 16

the proton number tells you a lot about the chemical properties

Question 17

• define the nucleon number

Answer 17

total number of protons and nuetrons

Question 18

• what else is the nucleon number called

Answer 18

the mass number, and has the symbol A

Question 19

• what is thre number of nucleons the same as

Answer 19

the atoms relative mass

Question 20

• define the nuclide notion

Answer 20

the nuclide notion of an elemnt summarises information about its atomic structre

Question 21

• define an isotope

Answer 21

atoms wit the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes

Question 22

• what happens when we change the number of neutrons

Answer 22

changing the number of neutrons dosent affect the atoms chemical properties

the number of neutrons affects the stability of the nucleus though

Question 23

• what do unstable nucei do

Answer 23

unstable nuclei may be radioactive and decay over time into different nuclei that are more stable

Question 24

• what can radioactive isotopes be used for

Answer 24

to find out how old stuff is

Question 25

• explain how scientists can find out how old stuff is

Answer 25

All living things contain the same percentage of radioactive carbon-14 taken in from the atomsphere

after they die, the amount of carbon-14 inside them decreases over timer as it decays to stable elements 

scientists can calculate the approximate age of archeological finds made from dead organic matter by using the isotopic data to find the percentage of radioactive carbon-14 thats left in the object

Question 26

• define the specific charge of a particle

Answer 26

the specific charge of a particle is the ratio of its charge to its mass, given in coulombs per kilogram (C Kg^-1)