Biology 1101 - Structure of an Atom

What is the fundamental unit for matter ?

Atoms

List the makeup of atoms

1. protons Pro(positive charge)

2. electrons NEG (negative charge)

3. neutrons NEU(neutral or no charge)

List the subatomic particles located in the nucleus (center of the atom)

• protons

Where are electrons located

• they orbit the nucleus

What subatomic particle identifies the element of an atom ?

The number of protons

If carbon has 6 protons how many electrons does it contain ?

6 electrons

What are the number variations of the neutrons called ?

Isotopes

Why is it difficult to show exact location of an electron

• electrons have no mass and

• orbit the nucleus of atom at incredible speeds

How would someone illustrate and isotope ?

• presenting as a negatively charged cloud around the nucleus

  or

• Using rings (orbitals) - rings that use to demonstrate the electrons at different energy states surrounding nucleus

Which subatomic particle participates in chemical reactions ?

The electrons at highest energy states (outer most orbital)

What is the specific term for electrons that participate in chemical reactions and therefore are responsible for formation of chemical bonds between atoms ?

Valence Electron

What determines the number of electrons ?

The number of protons

What lives in the atoms center ?

heavy protons and neutrons

Why are most things around us not electronegatively charged ?

most atoms are overall neutral

What do you need in order to form a neutral atom ?

The positive charge of protons must be exactly cancelled out by negatively charged electrons.

ex. hydrogen has one electron so it has one proton

Number of Protons and Electrons must be the same for all atoms

True

What is the nucleus role in an atom

Prevents proton and electron from fully repelling one another

Strong nucleur force means

attractive force in nucleus that works only in protons and electrons

What is the smallest number when you read an element in the periodic table called

Atomic number

ex. 6 on top of carbon and 12.01 beneath it

What does Atomic number tell us

Tells us number of protons that are in the nucleus of that atom

ex. if 6 is carbons atomic number (small number) then carbon has 6 protons

Biggest number when reading off periodic table is

Atomic mass

What is atomic mass

Number of Protons Neutrons and Electrons

Why is electron estimated to be zero in some calculation

because the electron mass is so small

How to find atomic mass

subtract atomic number (number of protons) from atomic mass