Chemistry Basics: Atoms and Molecules

An atom is made up of protons (positively charged), neutrons (no charge), and electrons (negatively charged).

The number of protons in an atom's nucleus identifies the element; for example, one proton is hydrogen and six protons are carbon.

An element consists of only one type of atom, while a compound is formed when two or more different elements bond together.

<p>A molecule is formed when two or more atoms bond together, which can be atoms of the same element or different elements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A simple molecule example is hydrogen gas (H₂), which is composed of two bonded hydrogen atoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Compounds are substances created from two or more different elements, and they have different properties due to the unique bonding and arrangements of atoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Elements are compared to different flavors of ice cream, where each flavor represents a unique element with distinct characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms to create new substances, similar to mixing ingredients in baking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Molecules can be classified as simple or complex based on whether they consist of the same type of atoms or different ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The nucleus of an atom acts like the sun in a solar system, with protons and neutrons at the center while electrons orbit around it like planets.</p> Signup and view all the answers