Explain what subatomic particles mke up an atom and how are they arranged
NEUTRONS and PROTONS are placed in the nucleus and ELECTRONS are placed in the electron cloud or energy levels surrounding the nucleus of an atom.
The atom consists of a nucleus, where most of the mass is located, that consists of protons and neutrons. Electrons are arranged in shells outside the nucleus.
Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They are made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
1. Protons: These positively charged particles are found in the nucleus, which is the central core of an atom. Each proton has a single positive charge and a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).
2. Neutrons: These particles have no charge, making them electrically neutral. Like protons, they are also found in the nucleus. Neutrons have a mass of approximately 1 amu, similar to protons.
3. Electrons: These negatively charged particles orbit the nucleus in specific energy levels called electron shells or orbitals. They have negligible mass compared to protons and neutrons. Electrons balance the positive charge of protons, creating an overall neutral charge for the atom.
Now, let's discuss how these subatomic particles are arranged within an atom.
The protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus, tightly packed together. The number of protons in the nucleus determines the element and is called the atomic number. For example, if an atom has 6 protons, it is carbon, element number 6 on the periodic table. The number of neutrons may vary within the same element, resulting in isotopes.
The electrons occupy specific energy levels surrounding the nucleus. These energy levels, also known as electron shells or orbitals, are represented by different letters (K, L, M, etc.) and hold a specific number of electrons. The innermost shell (K-shell) can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, while subsequent shells have higher capacities.
Electrons fill the shells closest to the nucleus before moving to higher-energy, outer shells. The first shell is filled first, followed by the second, then the third, and so on. The rule commonly known as the "Aufbau principle" helps determine the electron configuration or arrangement of electrons in an atom by following specific patterns based on the periodic table.
In summary, atoms consist of protons and neutrons packed together in the nucleus, while electrons orbit the nucleus within specific energy levels. The arrangement of these subatomic particles and their properties determine the identity and behavior of different elements.