The Structure of Atom

These are some facts about the structure of atom.

Before discussing the structure of atoms, we must learn the words mass and weight. If we on the moon, our weight will be less, but our mass is the same. It is said that if you want to lose weight, go to My To lose weight, dieting and exercise. For our purpose in this article, the mass and weight terms are used interchangeably, because we are on earth.

Hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen called elements. There are just over 100 known elements, and are included in the periodic table. All matter is composed of various combinations of these 100 + PIECES. If water is composed of two elements, hydrogen and oxygen. Each water molecule contains two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen - H2O.

All atoms have a nucleus with electrons zooming around. It can be compared to planets (electrons) move around the Sun (nucleus.)

The nucleus contains most of the mass or weight of the atom. The key to finding the protons and neutrons. The number of protons of each type of atom is the same. For hydrogen atoms, for example always a proton. Helium atoms are always two protons. All carbon atoms have six protons. All nitrogen atoms have seven protons, etc.

The periodic table is arranged in numerical order, depending on the number of protons, atoms of the element have. This number is the atomic number. Hydrogen has atomic number 1. The atomic number of helium 2. The atomic number of carbon 6. The atomic number of nitrogen 7, etc.

The number of neutrons in the atoms changes. Helium atoms are sometimes 2 neutrons and others have 3 neutrons. The atoms of carbon and other sometimes 6 neutrons 7 neutrons. Nitrogen atoms have 7 neutrons and others have 8 neutrons, scientists, etc. to calculate an average.

If you add up the number of protons and neutrons in the mean of an atom, you get the atomic mass or atomic weight or mass number. These three terms refer to the same. If you look at a periodic table, you will see that the mass number of helium is 4003, the atomic mass of carbon is 12.01, the atomic weight of nitrogen is 14.01, etc.

Protons have a positive charge. Neutrons have no charge they are neutral. Electrons have a negative charge. In an electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons and protons are equal, balancing it out in neutral. Electron little mass or weight. Electrons zooming around outside the nucleus in orbitals and to take part in chemical reactions. The protons and neutrons remain where they are located in the nucleus. They do not take part in chemical reactions.