Relative Electrical Charges of Subatomic Particles

• What are the relative electrical charges of protons, neutrons, and electrons?

  Proton +1, Neutron 0, Electron -1
• How does the number of electrons in an atom relate to the number of protons?

  The number of electrons equals the number of protons
• What is the overall electrical charge of an atom?

  An atom has no overall electrical charge
• What happens to an atom's charge if it loses electrons?

  It turns into a positive ion
• What happens to an atom's charge if it gains electrons?

  It turns into a negative ion
• What is the atomic number of an element?

  It is the number of protons in an atom
• How do atoms of different elements differ?

  They have different numbers of protons
• How many protons does a sodium atom have?

  11 protons
• What is the mass number of sodium?

  23
• What does the mass number of an atom represent?

  It is the sum of protons and neutrons
• What are the key characteristics of subatomic particles?

  • Protons: +1 charge
  • Neutrons: 0 charge
  • Electrons: -1 charge
  • Number of electrons equals protons in neutral atoms
  • Atoms can gain or lose electrons to form ions
• How do atomic numbers and mass numbers relate to elements?

  • Atomic number: number of protons
  • Mass number: sum of protons and neutrons
  • Different elements have different atomic numbers
  • Same element has the same number of protons