Atoms and Subatomic Particles Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which subatomic particle carries a positive charge?

Electron

Neutron

Proton (correct)

Ion

What is the charge of a neutron?

Variable

Neutral (correct)

Positive

Negative

What determines the atomic number of an element?

The number of electrons plus protons

The total number of protons (correct)

The number of neutrons

The mass number

Which statement is true regarding isotopes?

Isotopes differ in the number of neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

What does the mass number represent?

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

Where are electrons located in an atom?

In energy levels outside the nucleus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly represents zinc with its atomic number and mass number?

Zn, 65.38/30 Signup and view all the answers

Why do atoms in their neutral state have a zero charge?

They contain an equal number of protons and electrons. Signup and view all the answers

How can the number of neutrons in an atom be calculated?

By subtracting the atomic number from the mass number Signup and view all the answers

What transformation occurs when an atom loses electrons?

It becomes positively charged Signup and view all the answers

What is an anion?

An atom that has gained electrons Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly defines the charge number of an ion?

The difference between the number of protons and electrons Signup and view all the answers

In a neutral bromine atom, how many protons does it have?

35 Signup and view all the answers

What type of ion is formed when an atom loses electrons?

Cation Signup and view all the answers

What would you expect the charge of an atom to be if it has more protons than electrons?

Positive charge Signup and view all the answers

Which formula is used to determine atomic mass?

A = Z + n Signup and view all the answers

What are isotopes?

Elements with the same number of protons but different neutrons Signup and view all the answers

What is the charge number determined by?

The difference between proton and electron numbers Signup and view all the answers

Which isotope is commonly used in smoke detectors?

Americium-241 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about isotones is true?

They have the same number of neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

Which radioisotope is used for treating thyroid diseases?

Iodine-131 Signup and view all the answers

In chemical reactions, which particles are involved?

Only electrons Signup and view all the answers

When does the charge number of an element become negative?

When there are fewer protons than electrons Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes isobars?

Same mass number but different atomic numbers Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Structure of Atoms

Atoms consist of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons have a positive charge (+1) and a relative mass of 1, located in the nucleus.
Neutrons are neutral (0 charge) and also have a relative mass of 1, found in the nucleus.
Electrons carry a negative charge (-1), are outside the nucleus, and have a very small relative mass (1/1840).

Charge and Composition of Atoms

A neutral atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons, resulting in a net charge of zero.
Electrons are chiefly responsible for an atom's chemical properties and reactivity.
The nucleus remains unchanged during chemical reactions but can change during nuclear reactions.

Atomic Notation

Elements are represented by chemical symbols where the upper number indicates atomic number, and the lower number indicates mass number.
Example: Zinc (Zn) has an atomic number of 30 and a mass of 65.38 amu.
Mass numbers are always greater than atomic numbers in notation, confirming accurate representation.

Atomic Number and Mass Number

The atomic number (Z), also called proton number, reflects the number of protons and determines the element’s identity.
The mass number (A) is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.
Neutron count can be calculated as the difference between mass number and atomic number.

Ions and Charge Number

Electrons can be easily removed or added to an atom, creating ions with a charge.
Cations are positive ions (fewer electrons than protons), while anions are negative ions (more electrons than protons).
Charge number (q) is calculated as the difference between the number of protons and electrons.

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of elements with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Most isotopes occur naturally, while artificial isotopes (radioisotopes) can also be produced, often releasing radioactivity upon decay.
Isotopes share similar chemical properties and therefore react similarly regardless of their neutron count.

Applications of Isotopes

Americium-241 is used in smoke detectors.
Californium-252 assists in the detection of explosives.
Iodine-131 is employed in the treatment of thyroid diseases.
Carbon-14 is utilized for dating organic compounds, while uranium-238 helps in estimating the age of rocks.

Distinction between Isotopes, Isobars, and Isotones

Isotopes have the same number of protons but different neutrons.
Isobars have the same mass number but different atomic numbers.
Isotones have the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons.

Formulas and Calculations

Atomic mass can be calculated with A = Z + n, where n is the number of neutrons.
The charge number can be determined by q = p - e, involving the number of protons (p) and electrons (e).

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Description

Test your knowledge of atomic structure with this quiz focused on the components of atoms. Explore the roles of protons, neutrons, and electrons, along with their properties. Challenge yourself to understand the building blocks of matter.