When an atom is broken down into parts, what happens to its identity?
The atom is no longer recognizable.
The atom takes on a new average atomic mass.
The atom becomes a new type of matter.
The atom becomes a new element.
Is it the third one?
Well, I suppose if you put the protons in one box, electrons in a second, and neutrons in a third, it is several types of matter.
When an atom is broken down into parts, such as subatomic particles, its identity does not change. The atom retains its original identity as a specific element. So, none of the options you provided is correct.
To understand why, let's explain how atoms are composed. Atoms are made up of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge.
The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number, which is unique to each element. For example, all hydrogen atoms have one proton, while all carbon atoms have six protons. The atomic number defines the element itself. The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom determines its mass number.
Breaking down an atom into its subatomic particles, like removing electrons, protons, or neutrons, doesn't change its identity. The atom may gain or lose electrical charge if electrons are added or removed, but it remains the same element with the same atomic number.
Therefore, when an atom is broken down into parts, its identity remains intact.