Atoms, Ions, and Isotopes

Front

What is an atom?

Back

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Front

What is a proton?

Back

A proton is a positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons determines the element's identity.

Front

What is a neutron?

Back

A neutron is a neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. Neutrons contribute to the atomic mass but do not affect the charge.

Front

What is an electron?

Back

An electron is a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. Electrons are involved in chemical bonding.

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 a negative ion?

Back

A negative ion, or anion, is formed when an atom gains electrons, resulting in more electrons than protons.

Front

What is a positive ion?

Back

A positive ion, or cation, is formed when an atom loses electrons, resulting in more protons than electrons.

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, resulting in a different atomic mass.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

What is atomic number?

Back

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