Neutral Atoms, Ions, and Isotopes

Front

What is a neutral atom?

Back

A neutral atom is an atom that has an equal number of protons and electrons, resulting in no overall charge.

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 an isotope?

Back

An isotope is a variant of an element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Front

What happens when an atom gains an electron?

Back

When an atom gains an electron, it becomes a negative ion.

Front

What happens when an atom loses an electron?

Back

When an atom loses an electron, it becomes a positive ion.

Front

What is the atomic number?

Back

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element.

Front

What is the mass number?

Back

The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Front

What is the difference between an ion and a neutral atom?

Back

An ion has a net charge due to the loss or gain of electrons, while a neutral atom has no charge.

Front

What is the Bohr model of the atom?

Back

The Bohr model depicts the atom as having electrons orbiting the nucleus in defined paths or energy levels.

Front

What is the electron cloud model?

Back

The electron cloud model describes the regions around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found, rather than fixed orbits.