23. Select the smallest unit of matter that is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
[Choice A] organelle
[Choice B] atom
[Choice C] cell
[Choice D] organism
The correct option is [Choice B] atom.
The correct answer is [Choice B] atom.
The correct answer is [Choice B] atom. An atom is the smallest unit of matter that maintains the properties of an element. Atoms are made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom, while neutrons have no charge and also reside in the nucleus. Electrons, on the other hand, are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in energy levels or shells. Together, these particles make up the structure of an atom.
When approaching this type of question, it is important to have a basic understanding of the different levels of organization in biology. In this case, we are looking for the smallest unit of matter, which is an atom. To arrive at the correct answer, you may need to eliminate the other choices. In this case, [Choice A] organelle, [Choice C] cell, and [Choice D] organism are all larger units of organization and are not composed solely of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Therefore, the only logical choice is [Choice B] atom.