C2 The Atom

Question 1

What subatomic particles make up the atom?

Answer 1

Protons
Neutrons
Electrons

Question 2

Protons

Answer 2

Heavy and positively charged

Relative mass 1
Relative charge +1

Question 3

Neutrons

Answer 3

Heavy and neutral

Relative mass 1
Relative charge 0

Question 4

Electrons

Answer 4

Hardly any mass and are negatively charged.

Relative mass 0.0005
Relative charge -1

Question 5

Where is the nucleus?

Answer 5

In the middle of the atom.

Question 6

What does the nucleus contain?

Answer 6

Protons and neutrons

Question 7

What is the charge of the nucleus and why?

Answer 7

Positive charge because of the protons

Question 8

Where is almost all the mass of an atom concentrated?

Answer 8

In the nucleus

Question 9

An example of the size of the nucleus

Answer 9

If you magnified a nucleus to the size of a rubbish bin in London, the electrons would be whizzing round the m25

Question 10

What is the size of the nucleus compared to the overall size of the atom?

Answer 10

About a hundred-thousandth of the diameter of the atom.

Question 11

Describe how electrons move around the nucleus

Answer 11

Electrons move around the nucleus in electron shells.

Question 12

How are electrons charged?

Answer 12

Negatively

Question 13

Size of electrons

Answer 13

They’re tiny, but their shells cover a lot of space.

Question 14

Typical volume of electrons

Answer 14

10 to the power -10 m across

Question 15

Mass of electrons

Answer 15

Virtually no mass, often taken as zero.

Question 16

What are molecules made up of?

Answer 16

Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.

Question 17

Is a molecule made of the same elements or different elements?

Answer 17

They can be made of the same elements (eg hydrogen) or different molecules (eg ammonia)

Question 18

What are size are nanoparticles?

Answer 18

Bigger than simple molecules.

Can contain between a few hundred and a few thousands of atoms (1nm to 100nm)

Question 19

What size are simple molecules?

Answer 19

Pretty tiny (like atoms)

Generally similar length to the atomic diameter.

Question 20

Where is most of the mass of an atom to be found? (1mark)

Answer 20

In the nucleus

Question 21

Put the following things in order of size, starting with the smallest:
Atomic radius, nuclear radius, nanoparticle, simple molecule.

Answer 21

Nuclear radius, atomic radius, simple molecule, nanoparticle

2 marks for all 4 correct, 1 mark if up to 2 are incorrect