Topic 1: Atomic Structure

Question 1

Name the three subatomic particles in an atom.

Answer 1

1. Protons
2. Neutrons
3. Electrons

Question 2

What is the relative mass of protons, electrons and neutrons?

Answer 2

Proton = 1
Electron = 1/1840
Neutron = 1

Question 3

What is the relative charge of protons, electrons and neutrons?

Answer 3

Proton = +1
Electron = -1
Neutron = 0

Question 4

Where in the atom would you find protons, electrons and neutrons?

Answer 4

Protons = nucleus
Electrons = shells orbiting the nucleus
Neutrons = nucleus

Question 5

What is the atomic number?

Answer 5

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Question 6

What is the mass number?

Answer 6

The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

Question 7

Explain why the atom has no electrical charge.

Answer 7

The atom has no electrical charge as the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. This means the total +1 charges of the protons cancel out the total -1 charges of the electrons.

Question 8

How can the number of subatomic particles be determined?

Answer 8

By the mass number and the atomic number

Question 9

How can the mass number and atomic number show the number of subatomic particles?

Answer 9

Number of protons = atomic number
Number of neutrons = mass number - atomic number
Number of electrons = number of protons (in an atom)

Question 10

How are the electrons in an atom arranged?

Answer 10

In shells - they are at increasing distance from the nucleus

Question 11

The first shell, closest to the nucleus, can contain a maximum of ….. electrons

Answer 11

2

Question 12

The second shell can contain a maximum of ….. electrons

Answer 12

8

Question 13

The third shell can contain a maximum of ….. electrons

Answer 13

8

Question 14

The fourth shell can contain a maximum of ….. electrons

Answer 14

2

Question 15

How can the electrons be represented when drawing an atom?

Answer 15

With an X or a dot

Question 16

What happens when an atom becomes an ion?

Answer 16

The atom either gains or looses electrons.

Question 17

Why do atoms want to be ions?

Answer 17

So that they have a full outer shell and are stable

Question 18

What does the minus (-) sign when referring to an ion?

Answer 18

That the atom has GAINED electron(s)

Question 19

What does the plus (+) sign when referring to an ion?

Answer 19

That the atom has LOST electron(s)

Question 20

Name the charge of an ion from group 1

Answer 20

1+ (or just +)

Question 21

Name the charge of an ion from group 2

Answer 21

2+

Question 22

Name the charge of an ion from group 3

Answer 22

3+

Question 23

Name the charge of an ion from group 5

Answer 23

3-

Question 24

Name the charge of an ion from group 6

Answer 24

2-

Question 25

Name the charge of an ion from group 7

Answer 25

1- (or just -)

Question 26

What is an isotope?

Answer 26

Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of protons, but they have a different number of neutrons.

Question 27

What is the relative atomic mass?

Answer 27

The relative atomic mass is the average mass of all the atoms of isotopes of an element relative to the mass of an atom of carbon-12.

Question 28

How can the relative atomic mass be calculated?

Answer 28

R.A.M = the sum of (mass number x abundance) / sum of abundance

Question 29

What is the name for a positively charged ion?

Answer 29

A cation

Question 30

What is the name for a negatively charged ion?

Answer 30

an anion

Question 31

What is a compound?

Answer 31

A compound is a substance formed when two or more *different* elements are chemically combined.