What Makes Up An Atom?
Atom | noun || The smallest particle an element can be broken up into and still maintain the properties of that element
History
In 1911, it was said by Ernest Rutherford that an atom had a dense, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons. In 1913, however, Niels Bohr modified Rutherford's statement and instead said that the electrons moved in circular paths or orbits around the nucleus, and the paths they moved on had specific energy levels .
In each atom, in between all the electrons, protons and neutrons, is so much free space consisting of nothing. Considering how many atoms make up our planet, it is theorised that if all the free space was taken away, and the world consisted only of protons, electrons and neutrons, it would be around the size of an apple.
The circle in the middle is the nucleus. It is made of protons and neutrons. The orbital paths around the nucleus are called 'shells' and they are the paths electrons travel on. The first shell, the one closest to the nucleus, can hold up to 2 electrons, before the electrons begin a second shell. On the second shell, up to 18 electrons can be held, however the atom is most comfortable with 8 electrons, after which a third shell is created, as in the silicon Bohr model below. A third shell is not the limit however, and an atom can have more than seven shells, depending on the element.
In 1911, it was said by Ernest Rutherford that an atom had a dense, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons. In 1913, however, Niels Bohr modified Rutherford's statement and instead said that the electrons moved in circular paths or orbits around the nucleus, and the paths they moved on had specific energy levels .
In each atom, in between all the electrons, protons and neutrons, is so much free space consisting of nothing. Considering how many atoms make up our planet, it is theorised that if all the free space was taken away, and the world consisted only of protons, electrons and neutrons, it would be around the size of an apple.
The circle in the middle is the nucleus. It is made of protons and neutrons. The orbital paths around the nucleus are called 'shells' and they are the paths electrons travel on. The first shell, the one closest to the nucleus, can hold up to 2 electrons, before the electrons begin a second shell. On the second shell, up to 18 electrons can be held, however the atom is most comfortable with 8 electrons, after which a third shell is created, as in the silicon Bohr model below. A third shell is not the limit however, and an atom can have more than seven shells, depending on the element.
Proton
The number of protons determine the identity of an element.
Neutron
An atom can have slightly more or less neutrons than protons. This is because very rarely, an atom occurs with an extra neutron, or missing a neutron. They do not last as long as perfect atoms, but they still exist for a considerable amount if time. Because of this, the total atomic mass of an element is hardly ever perfectly double the amount of protons.
Electron
An electron has only 1/1836 the weight of a proton or neutron. This is why their weight is not included in an elements' atomic mass. The reason their weight is so little is because thinking of a proton or neutron as a football, an electron is only the size of a grain of rice.
Electrons are the parts of an atom which create chemical reactions.
The number of protons determine the identity of an element.
Neutron
An atom can have slightly more or less neutrons than protons. This is because very rarely, an atom occurs with an extra neutron, or missing a neutron. They do not last as long as perfect atoms, but they still exist for a considerable amount if time. Because of this, the total atomic mass of an element is hardly ever perfectly double the amount of protons.
Electron
An electron has only 1/1836 the weight of a proton or neutron. This is why their weight is not included in an elements' atomic mass. The reason their weight is so little is because thinking of a proton or neutron as a football, an electron is only the size of a grain of rice.
Electrons are the parts of an atom which create chemical reactions.