Atomic Structure Honors

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

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Electrons determine the charge of an atom; if there are more electrons than protons, the atom is negatively charged, and vice versa.

Neutrons contribute to the mass of an atom and help stabilize the nucleus by offsetting the repulsive forces between protons.

The nucleus is the central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons, and it holds nearly all of the atom's mass.

An atom is the smallest unit of an element, while a molecule is a group of two or more atoms bonded together.

A conductor is a material that allows the flow of electric current, typically metals like silver and copper.

The electron cloud is the region around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found; it defines the size and shape of the atom.

The mass number is calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

A proton has a positive charge.