PS 4.1 atoms

Front

What is an atom?

Back

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element. It consists of a nucleus made of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.

Front

What are the three main subatomic particles?

Back

The three main subatomic particles are protons (positively charged), neutrons (neutral), and electrons (negatively charged).

Front

What is the charge of a proton?

Back

A proton has a positive charge.

Front

What is the charge of a neutron?

Back

A neutron has no charge (it is neutral).

Front

What is the charge of an electron?

Back

An electron has a negative charge.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Front

What are isotopes?

Back

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

Front

What happens to the charge of an atom when it gains electrons?

Back

When an atom gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and is called an anion.

Front

What happens to the charge of an atom when it loses electrons?

Back

When an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged and is called a cation.