Structure of the Atom

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts about the structure of the atom.

Atom

The basic building blocks of matter.

Nucleus

The center of the atom, made up of protons and neutrons.

Nucleon

A collective term for protons and neutrons.

Mass of the nucleus

The mass of the nucleus is less than the sum of the masses of the nucleons that make it up.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in defined energy levels.

Protons

Positively charged particles located in the nucleus.

Neutrons

Particles with no electrical charge, also located in the nucleus.

Atom charge concept

Atoms get their charge through the loss or gain of electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion, formed when an atom gains an extra electron.