Atomic Structure and Subatomic Particles

Subatomic Particle Properties

• Subatomic particles are protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• Protons have a positive charge (+1).
• Neutrons have no charge (neutral).
• Electrons have a negative charge (-1).
• Protons and neutrons reside in the atom's nucleus.
• Electrons orbit the nucleus in electron shells or energy levels.

Atomic Structure Information

• Atomic number (Z) represents the number of protons in an atom.
• Mass number (A) is the sum of protons and neutrons.
• Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different neutron counts, therefore different mass numbers.
• Ions are atoms with a net positive or negative charge due to a difference in the number of protons and electrons.
• An element's overall charge is determined by the net difference between the number of protons and electrons.

Nuclear Symbols

• Nuclear symbols represent an element, isotope, or ion using its symbol, mass number, and atomic number.
• Example: $^{14}_{6}$C represents carbon-14, with 6 protons and 8 neutrons.
• Example of an ion: $^{23}_{11}$Na⁺ represents a sodium ion with 11 protons, 12 neutrons, and a +1 charge.

Forces Within Atoms

• Strong nuclear force: binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus, overcoming electrostatic repulsion between protons.
• Electrostatic force: attracts electrons to the positively charged nucleus, and repels protons from each other.

Mass and Atomic Mass

• The combined mass of an atom's subatomic particles equals the atom's overall mass.
• The mass of an electron is extremely small compared to protons and neutrons, so the nucleus has nearly the entire mass of the atom.

Isotopic Abundance and Average Atomic Mass

• Average atomic mass is calculated using the weighted average of the masses of all isotopes of an element, taking into account their relative abundance.

Conversions Between Atoms, Moles, and Mass

• Avogadro's number (6.022 x 10²³) relates the number of atoms to moles.
• Using molar mass (mass of one mole of a substance) allows the conversion between moles and grams.

This quiz covers the properties of subatomic particles, including protons, neutrons, and electrons. It explores key concepts such as atomic numbers, mass numbers, isotopes, and ions, along with the use of nuclear symbols. Test your understanding of atomic structure and the fundamental building blocks of matter.