Common Scientific Beliefs About the Atom
- An atom of an element is defined as the smallest unit of that element that still retains the chemical and physical properties of that element. All atoms of a given element have the same properties. Although an atom can be broken down into even smaller subatomic particles, the subatomic particles have properties of their own and will no longer exhibit the behaviors of the element in question.
- An atom contains three different types of subatomic particles. Subatomic particles are found within the atom and contribute to the properties of the atom. Protons are subatomic particles with a positive charge and have a relatively heavy mass of about 1 amu (atomic mass unit). Neutrons have no charge and exhibit approximately the same mass as a proton. Electrons are negatively charged, composed of energy and have almost no mass at all.
- In every atom is a tiny, dense sphere known as the nucleus. The nucleus is the center of an atom, around which electrons revolve. Both the protons and neutrons of an atom are found in the nucleus. All the atoms of a certain element will have the exact same number of protons; however, the number of neutrons may vary. Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes.
- The majority of an atom is made up of empty space, where electrons orbit around the nucleus. Electrons are situated in elliptical paths called orbitals and continuously move around the nucleus in these defined pathways. These subatomic particles, composed almost entirely of energy, bond atoms together. During the bonding process, electrons may be given from one atom to another or shared between atoms in the formation of new compounds.
