Atomic Structure

Atoms are made up of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, and electrons in the electron cloud. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. Protons determine an element's identity. Use the Subatomic Particle Table and Build an Atom Activity to explore the structure of atoms.

Unraveling Atoms

• Watch the video to understand the secrets of atoms

Element's Identity:

Protons determine an element's identity. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They define the atomic number and unique characteristics of an element. Neutrons and electrons also play important roles, but it is the number of protons that distinguishes one element from another.

Structure of Atoms

Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus, while electrons are found in the electron cloud. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. Protons determine an element's identity.

Element's Identity

Trivia: An element's identity is determined by the number of protons in its nucleus. Protons carry a positive charge and define the element's atomic number. The atomic number determines the element's unique properties and its position on the periodic table. Neutrons and electrons also play important roles in an atom, but it is the protons that give an element its identity.

Unraveling the Secrets of Atoms

Discover the relative sizes and charges of subatomic particles. Learn about the proton, electron, and neutron. Understand the concept of atomic number and mass number. Explore the structure of an atom with the Build an Atom activity. Watch the video to voyage into the world of atoms.

Subatomic Particles

Did you know? An atom is made up of protons, electrons, and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge. These tiny particles are the building blocks of matter and determine an atom's properties.

Secrets of Atoms

Trivia: Did you know that atoms are so small that a single drop of water contains about 2 sextillion (2 followed by 21 zeros) atoms? Atoms are the building blocks of everything in the universe, and by watching the video and creating atom models, you can unlock the mysteries of their structure and behavior.