Atomic Theory

Question 1

What are the three components of an atom?

Answer 1

Protons
Neutrons
Electrons

Question 2

What are Protons?

Answer 2

Protons are positively charged particles located in the nucleus (centre) of the atom. They have a relative mass of 1 amu (atomic mass unit)

Question 3

What are Neutrons?

Answer 3

Neutrons are particles with no charge which are located in the nucleus (centre) of the atom. They have a relative mass of 1 amu (atomic mass unit)

Question 4

What are Electrons?

Answer 4

Electrons are negatively charged particles located on the outer shells (electron clouds) of the atom. They have a relative mass of approximately 0 amu (atomic mass unit)

Question 5

What is the overall charge of an atom?

Answer 5

Atoms have no overall charge as, when neutral the number of protons and electrons is equal and thus cancel each other out. This is not the case with ions.

Question 6

What is the Atomic Number of an element?

Answer 6

The Atomic Number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.

Question 7

What is the Mass Number (Atomic Mass) of an element?

Answer 7

The Mass Number is the total number of protons plus the number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Question 8

How do you work out the number of protons in an atom?

Answer 8

Number of Protons = Atomic Number

Question 9

How do you work out the number of neutrons in an atom?

Answer 9

Number of Neutrons = (Mass Number - Atomic Number)

Question 10

How do you work out the number of electrons in an atom?

Answer 10

Number of Electrons = Atomic Number (When the atom is neutral)

Question 11

What are isotopes?

Answer 11

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different Mass Numbers due to them having different amounts of neutrons in the nucleus

Question 12

What does RAM stand for?

Answer 12

Relative Atomic Mass

Question 13

What is the RAM of an element?

Answer 13

The RAM of an element is the average Mass Number of an element based on how abundant each isotope of the atom is.

Question 14

Copper has two isotopes, Copper-63 and Copper-65. The RAM of Copper is 63.5. Which isotope is more abundant and why?

Answer 14

Copper-63 is more abundant because the RAM is closer to 63 that 65

Question 15

What are ions?

Answer 15

Ions are when there is an imbalance of protons and electrons

Question 16

When are ions formed?

Answer 16

Ions are formed when an atom gains or loses an electron

Question 17

What is the relationship between metals and non-metals and ions?

Answer 17

Metal atoms lose electron(s) to from positive ions

Non-metal atoms gain electron(s) to for negative ions

Question 18

What do all atoms “want” to be like, and why?

Answer 18

Noble Gases. This is because the noble gases are the only elements on the periodic table which have a stable electron arrangement

Question 19

What is meant by a stable electron arrangement?

Answer 19

A stable electron arrangement is one in which all available spaces on the electron shells are taken