Table of Contents
Introduction of Atom ; 3 Subatomic Particles of an Atom ;
Atomic Number and Mass Number
Atom is the smallest particle of an element that has the chemical properties of that element. It is made up of 3 subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. The number of protons in an atom determines the element’s atomic number. The number of neutrons in an atom determines the atom’s mass number.
Proton Subatomic Particle
A proton is a subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of atoms. It has a positive charge and a mass of 1.67 x 10-27 kg.
Electrons
are attracted to protons by the Coulomb force. The more protons there are in an atom, the more electrons it will have. Ions are atoms that have lost or gained electrons. They have a net positive or negative charge because they have more or less protons than electrons.
