what is the center of an atom
What is atom? Printable version
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Science 101: What is an atom?
Atoms are considered as the basic building blocks of matter. Anything that has mass – in other words, anything that takes up space – is composed of atoms. While its name originally referred to a particle that can no longer be divided – the smallest possible thing – we now know that each atom is usually made up of smaller particles. Given that these particles make up atoms, they are often called subatomic particles. There are three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Read: what is the center of an atom Two of the subatomic particles carry an electrical charge: the proton has a positive charge and the electron has a negative charge. On the other hand, neutrons do not carry a charge. A basic rule is that particles with the same charge repel each other, while particles with opposite charges attract each other. So, like opposite ends of a magnet, protons and electrons are attracted to each other. Likewise, just like when you experience resistance when trying to push the same ends of two magnets together, protons are repelled from other protons and electrons are repelled from other electrons. Read more: Iskysoft Helper Compact – Is it safe? | Q&AT The nucleus (or center) of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus, known as the “atomic number”, essentially determines where that atom is on the Periodic Table. The number of protons in the nucleus also determines most of the characteristics of an atom – whether it is a gas or a metal, for example. Two atoms with the same number of protons in their nuclei belong to the same element. An element, like hydrogen, oxygen, or iron, is a substance that cannot be broken down — apart from a nuclear reaction — into anything else. In other words, one element cannot be transformed into another (again, except for a nuclear reaction).
Now, while protons are the same in an element, the number of neutrons can vary between atoms. The number of neutrons determines the isotope of an atom. This is important for NRC because the number of neutrons relative to protons determines the stability of the nucleus, with certain isotopes undergoing radioactive decay. While radioactive decay can occur in a variety of ways, to put it simply, it’s the process by which unstable atoms break apart, releasing particles (and energy). Top Q & AG In general, atoms with the same number of protons and neutrons are more stable to decay. The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a cloud of electrons. Remember, electrons are negatively charged and are attracted to positively charged protons in the nucleus. An atom is said to be electrically neutral if it has an equal number of protons and electrons. If an atom has a different number of electrons and protons, it is called an ion. These bonds allow the formation of molecules, combinations of atoms (including different elements). Just as several atoms make up a molecule, many molecules make up a chemical substance. This material is not copyrighted and may be reproduced for educational purposes.
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