Atomic Basics

What is at the center of the Earth?

• Electron

• Neutron

• Proton

• Nucleus

Imagine you're building a model of an atom for a science project. What particles would you place in the nucleus of your model atom?

• Electrons and Protons

• Electrons and Neutrons

• Protons and Neutrons

• Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons

Imagine you're observing a tiny solar system. In this analogy, which particle plays the role of a planet orbiting around the sun (nucleus)?

• Proton

• Neutron

• Electron

• Quark

Imagine you are examining the atomic structure in a physics lab. What would be the charge of a proton observed in an atom?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• Variable

When an electron moves from one atom to another, what type of charge does it carry with it?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• Variable

Imagine you're studying particles in a physics class. Your teacher asks, 'What is the charge of a neutron?'

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• Variable

Imagine you're studying a newly discovered element, Element X, in a laboratory. What does the atomic number of Element X tell you?

• It is the number of neutrons in the nucleus of Element X.

• It is the number of electrons orbiting the nucleus of Element X.

• It is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of Element X.

• It is the number of protons in the nucleus of Element X.

In a water molecule, two hydrogen atoms are bonded to one oxygen atom. If we have two water molecules with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in the oxygen atoms, what are these oxygen atoms called?

• Isotopes

• Isomers

• Alloys

• Compounds

Imagine you're a scientist analyzing an unknown element. What would you examine to determine its chemical properties?

• The number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms

• The number of neutrons in the nucleus of its atoms

• The number of electrons orbiting the nucleus of its atoms

• The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of its atoms

Imagine you discovered a new element in a meteorite that has 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons. What would be its atomic number?

• 3

• 4

• 7

• 10