Atoms, Ions, and Isotopes

Front

What is an atom?

Back

The smallest unit of an element, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Front

What is a proton?

Back

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Front

What is a neutron?

Back

A neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom that helps hold the nucleus together.

Front

What is an electron?

Back

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Front

What is an ion?

Back

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

Front

What is a positive ion?

Back

An ion that has lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net positive charge.

Front

What is a negative ion?

Back

An ion that has gained one or more electrons, resulting in a net negative charge.

Front

What are isotopes?

Back

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Front

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

Back

The number of protons is equal to the atomic number of the element.

Front

What is the role of neutrons in an atom?

Back

Neutrons help to stabilize the nucleus by offsetting the repulsive forces between protons.