Atoms — the divisible unit | Electrons, Protons, Neutrons | Highlights to Modern Conceptions

 Atom:

Atom is considered the smallest unit of matter that retains the chemical properties of an element.

Subatomic particles:

 It is divisible in the sense that it consists of subatomic particles, namely protons, neutrons, and electrons. 

These particles can be further divided into even smaller particles through processes such as nuclear reactions and particle accelerators.

The nucleus and electrons:

The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons, while the electrons orbit around the nucleus. 

Protons carry a positive charge, neutrons are neutral, and electrons have a negative charge. 

The number of protons determines the atomic number of an element, while the total number of protons and neutrons determines its atomic mass.

Properties of electrons:

1. Electron:

 An electron is a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits around the nucleus of an atom.

• It has a tiny mass, about 1/1836 times the mass of a proton.
  
• Electrons have a wave-particle duality which means they can behave as both particles and waves.
  
• They carry one unit of negative electric charge (-1 elementary charge).
  
• Electrons play a important role in chemical reactions as they participate in the formation and breaking of chemical bonds.
  
• The arrangement of electrons in an atom determines its chemical properties and reactivity.
  

2. Proton:

• A proton is a positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
  
• It is much heavier than an electron, with a mass about 1836 times that of an electron.
  
• Protons carry one unit of positive electric charge (+1 elementary charge).
  
• The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and defines its element. For example, hydrogen has one proton, while carbon has six protons.
  
• Protons are responsible for the stability and structure of the nucleus, as they balance the repulsive forces between positively charged protons.
  
• They also play a role in chemical bonding indirectly through the attraction between the positive charge of protons in one atom and the negative charge of electrons in another atom.
  

3. Neutron:

• A neutron is an uncharged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
  
• Neutrons have a mass similar to that of protons.
  
• They do not carry any electric charge, making them electrically neutral.
  
• The number of neutrons in an atom can vary, leading to isotopes of a particular element.
  
• Neutrons help stabilize the nucleus by adding an attractive nuclear force to offset the repulsive force between protons.
  
• They do not directly participate in chemical reactions or bonding but affect nuclear stability and the atom's mass.
  

In summary, electrons, protons, and neutrons are the fundamental building blocks of matter. Electrons orbit around the nucleus, while protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus. Their distinct charges and masses contribute to the properties and behavior of atoms, such as chemical reactions, atomic structure, and overall stability.