Elements and atomic structure

Question 0

Why are electrons important

Answer 0

Electrons are very important because they are the bit of the atom that takes part in bonding

Question 1

Define electrons

Answer 1

Electrons are very light, negatively charged particles which occupy shells around the nucleus

Question 2

Electron configurations show how an atom’s electrons are arranged around it’s nucleus. How many electrons does each shell contain

Answer 2

Shell 1 holds 2 electrons
Shell 2 holds 8 electrons
Shell 3 holds 8 electrons

Question 3

A chlorine atom has 17 electrons, how would this be written in shorthand

Answer 3

2,8,7

Question 4

What does the number of electrons on the outer shell show

Answer 4

It’s shows which group in the periodic table the element is

Question 5

What does the number of shells show

Answer 5

It gives the period (row) or the periodic table that the element is in

Question 6

Define an element

Answer 6

Elements are substances that contain only one type of atom

Question 7

What are atoms composed of

Answer 7

They are composed of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. The nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons

Question 8

What is the atomic number

Answer 8

The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom