Atoms, Ions, and Isotopes

Front

What is an atom?

Back

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Front

What are protons?

Back

Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons determines the atomic number and the identity of the element.

Front

What are neutrons?

Back

Neutrons are neutral particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They contribute to the atomic mass but do not affect the charge of the atom.

Front

What are electrons?

Back

Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom. They are involved in chemical bonding and reactions.

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Front

What is a positive ion (cation)?

Back

A positive ion, or cation, is formed when an atom loses one or more electrons, resulting in more protons than electrons.

Front

What is a negative ion (anion)?

Back

A negative ion, or anion, is formed when an atom gains one or more electrons, resulting in more electrons than protons.

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Front

How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?

Back

The number of neutrons can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number (number of protons) from the atomic mass (rounded to the nearest whole number).

Front

What does the atomic number represent?

Back

The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which defines the element.