✎ 1 Atoms and Materials

✎ 1.1 Atomic Structure

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✎ National Curriculum Learning Objectives:

  • Name the three types of particles present in an atom (protons, neutrons, electrons)
  • Describe the properties of protons, neutrons and electrons in terms of mass and charge
  • Use atomic number and mass number to determine the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom
  • Describe the electron arrangement/configuration for an atom of a given element
  • Explain what isotopes are and how they differ for the same element

💬 Questions – discuss with your partner

  • Describe the basic model of an atom
  • What do the terms ‘atomic number’ and ‘mass number’ represent?

✎ The Atom

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✎ 1. The basic model of an atom:

  • Nucleus in the centre made of protons and neutrons
  • Electrons orbit the nucleus in shells/energy levels
  • Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, neutrons are neutral

✎ 2. The terms ‘atomic number‘ and ‘mass number‘

  • The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
  • The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus