Atomic Structure Basics

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Questions and Answers

What are the three main components of an atom?

Protons, Electrons, Neutrons (correct)

Nucleus, Electron, Proton

Protons, Neutrons, Molecules

Electrons, Neutrons, Ions

What is the role of protons in an atom?

Determines the identity of the element (correct)

Determine the electron binding energy

Determines the atomic mass

Determines the nuclear stability

What is the difference between protons and neutrons?

Protons are uncharged, while neutrons are negatively charged

Protons are positively charged, while neutrons have no charge (correct)

Protons are negatively charged, while neutrons are positively charged

Protons are heavier than neutrons

What is the function of the nucleus in an atom?

Determines the identity of the element and its atomic mass Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the atomic number of an element?

It is a unique number of protons for each element Signup and view all the answers

What is the negative charge in an atom associated with?

Electron Signup and view all the answers

What is the atomic mass of an element determined by?

The number of protons and neutrons Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the atomic number of oxygen being 8?

Oxygen has 8 protons Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between neutrons and protons?

Electrical charge Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of electron binding energy?

To hold the electron to the nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the path of an electron around the nucleus?

Orbit Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate mass of a proton in atomic mass units (amu)?

1.0073 amu Signup and view all the answers

How do atoms of a given element differ from one another?

By number of neutrons Signup and view all the answers

What is the charge of an electron?

Negative Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of forming new molecules and compounds?

Chemical bonding Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum number of electrons in the K shell?

2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate mass of an electron in grams?

9.1094 x 10^-28 grams Signup and view all the answers

How many times smaller is the mass of an electron compared to the proton or neutron?

What determines the element of an atom?

Number of protons Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbol of the element with 26 protons?

Fe Signup and view all the answers

What is the relative percentage of Oxygen in Earth's mass?

46.6% Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for atoms of an element with different numbers of neutrons?

Isotopes Signup and view all the answers

What is the notation for an isotope, where A is the atomic mass and Z is the atomic number?

AXy Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical relationship between the number of protons and neutrons in an isotope?

More neutrons than protons Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of a stable or non-radioactive nuclide?

Its atoms do not decay Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between N and Z in the heaviest stable nuclei?

N is about 1.5 times Z Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the extra neutrons in the heaviest stable nuclei?

To overcome the positively charged protons' tendency to repel each other Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the force that holds the nucleus together?

Nuclear force Signup and view all the answers

What happens to radionuclides during radioactive transformation?

They emit particles to adjust their N to Z ratio Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of radioactive transformation on radionuclides?

They tend to move towards the line of stability Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a naturally occurring radionuclide?

192Ir Signup and view all the answers

What is the use of 131I in nuclear medicine?

In treatment of thyroid conditions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Atom Structure

An atom is composed of positively charged protons, uncharged neutrons, and negatively charged electrons.

Atomic Model Evolution

Thomson's model: introduced the concept of electrons
Rutherford's model: introduced the concept of the nucleus
Bohr's model: introduced the concept of electron orbits around the nucleus

Nucleus

The nucleus is the central part of the atom, consisting of protons and neutrons.
The number of protons determines the identity of the element and its atomic mass.

Protons

Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.
Each element has a unique atomic number (number of protons), which never changes.

Neutrons

Neutrons are uncharged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.
Atoms of a given element do not always contain the same number of neutrons.

Electrons

Electrons are negatively charged particles that surround the nucleus in "orbits."
The sharing or exchange of electrons between atoms forms chemical bonds.

Electron Binding Energy

Electrons exist in discrete "shells" around the nucleus, each with a unique binding energy.
The shells are designated by letters (K, L, M, N …), with the K shell having the largest binding energy.

Atomic Mass Unit (amu)

The atomic mass of the proton and neutron is approximately 1 amu.
The atomic mass of the electron is approximately 0.00055 amu, which is much smaller than the proton and neutron.

Elements

The number of protons in an atom dictates the element.
For an uncharged atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons.

Isotopes

Atoms of an element with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus are called isotopes.
Isotopes are typically written as AXy, where A is the atomic mass (neutron + proton) and Z is the atomic number (protons).

Nuclear Stability

A stable or non-radioactive nuclide is one whose atoms do not decay.
A graph of neutron number vs atomic number for stable nuclei shows an interesting pattern.
Heavy stable nuclei have more neutrons than protons, which overcomes the positively charged protons' tendency to repel each other.

Unstable Nuclei

Nuclei that do not fall on the line of stability tend to be unstable or "radioactive."
Radionuclides undergo radioactive transformation or disintegration to adjust their neutron-to-proton ratio towards the line of stability.

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Description

Explore the fundamental structure of atoms, including neutrons, protons, and electrons, and learn about atomic number, mass, and nuclear stability.