1.1.1 Understanding atoms as the smallest part of an element

• What is contained within the nucleus of an atom?

  Protons and neutrons
• What type of charge do neutrons have?

  Neutral
• What type of charge do protons have?

  Positively charged
• What are the two main parts of an atom?

  Nucleus and electron shells
• What are the key properties of atoms and elements?

  • Atoms are the smallest unit of elements
  • Each atom retains the properties of its element
  • Atoms combine to form molecules and compounds
• What are the types of chemical bonds atoms can form?


  • Covalent bonds: sharing electrons
  • Ionic bonds: transferring electrons
  • Metallic bonds: sharing metal electrons
• What is an element composed of?

  Atoms of the same type
• What type of bond is formed when two hydrogen atoms share electrons with one oxygen atom?

  Covalent bond
• What is the chemical formula for water?

  H₂O
• How do the electrons move in the Bohr atomic model?

  • Electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed, discrete energy levels
  • Electrons can only transition between these allowed energy levels
  • Electrons do not emit or absorb energy continuously
• What determines the type of atom?

  The number of protons
• How do covalent bonds differ from ionic bonds?

  Covalent bonds share electrons, ionic bonds transfer electrons
• How do electrons behave in relation to the nucleus?

  They orbit in shells around the nucleus
• How do atoms achieve a stable arrangement of electrons?

  By forming chemical bonds with other atoms
• What do identical atoms form?

  Pure substances
• How do the charges of the main atomic particles compare?

  • Protons have a positive charge
  • Electrons have a negative charge
  • Neutrons have no charge (are neutral)
• What are the main components of an atom?

  • Electron shell
  • Nucleus
  • Protons
  • Neutrons
• What are the components of a nitrogen atom?

  • 7 protons
  • 7 neutrons
  • 7 electrons
• What is the range of elements listed in the Periodic Table?

  From hydrogen (H) to oganesson (Og)
• How do the masses of the main atomic particles compare?

  • Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass
  • Electrons have a much smaller mass compared to protons and neutrons
• How many neutrons are in a nitrogen atom?

  7 neutrons
• How do the charges of the main atomic particles compare?

  • Protons have a positive charge
  • Electrons have a negative charge
  • Neutrons have no charge (are neutral)
• What is the name of the neutral particle in an atom?

  Neutron
• How do the locations of the main atomic particles compare?

  • Electrons orbit the nucleus in the electron shell
  • Protons and neutrons are located within the nucleus
• What are atoms?

  Tiny particles that make up everything
• What are the main components of the Bohr atomic model?

  • Nucleus (protons and neutrons)
  • Electron orbits
  • Electrons
• How do elements differ from compounds?

  Elements consist of identical atoms, compounds do not
• What is the name of the outermost layer of an atom?

  Electron shell
• What does each element in the Periodic Table have?

  Its own unique properties
• How do the masses of the main atomic particles compare?

  • Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass
  • Electrons have a much smaller mass compared to protons and neutrons
• How many electrons are in a nitrogen atom?

  7 electrons
• What does the Periodic Table list?

  All known elements
• If you have one gold atom, what does it represent?

  It still represents gold
• What are the limitations of the Bohr atomic model?

  • Cannot explain the behavior of multi-electron atoms
  • Does not account for the wave-like nature of electrons
  • Cannot explain the splitting of spectral lines (fine structure)
• What is the name of the positively charged particle in an atom?

  Proton
• What is the role of chemical bonds in atoms?

  They allow atoms to achieve stability
• How does the Bohr atomic model differ from the earlier Rutherford atomic model?

  The Bohr model introduces the concept of discrete electron orbits, unlike the continuous orbits in the Rutherford model
• What are elements made up of?

  Only one type of atom
• What can different atoms combine to create?

  Compounds
• What is the smallest piece of an element?

  An atom