Inside The Atom

The smallest particles of an element that still have the element’s properties are

• quarks.
• gluons.
• protons.
• atoms.

Which statement is true about the nucleus of an atom?

• It makes up most of the atom’s volume.
• It makes up most of the atom’s mass.
• It contains protons and electrons.
• It is neutral in electric charge.

The strong force explains why

• electrons are attracted to the nucleus.
• the nucleus does not fly apart.
• electrons are smaller than protons.
• none of the above

The mass number of an atom is its number of

• electrons.
• protons.
• neutrons.
• protons plus neutrons.

When a fluorine atom gains an electron, it becomes a(n)

• positive ion.
• isotope.
• cation.
• anion.

All protons are exactly the same.

• True
• False

Electrons have the same mass as protons.

• True
• False

Atoms may be positive or negative in charge.

• True
• False

All atoms of a given element have the same number of electrons.

• True
• False

There are three quarks in each neutron.

• True
• False