Atomic structure and properties

Atoms are described as the unit of matter which is the smallest but has all the properties of that particular element.  Despite being the smallest structure of matter, atoms are still composed of three more particles. These particles are named as protons, neutrons and electrons. Both protons and neutrons have the same mass that is about  1.67 × 10-24 grams. This is used as the definition for 1 amu or 1 dalton. Compared to protons and neutrons, electrons are lighter in mass. They weigh about 9.11 × 10-28 grams. 

What is an atom?

Atoms make up everything in this world. The question is what are atoms really? Atoms are described as the unit of matter which is the smallest but has all the properties of that particular element.  

Molecules are formed when atoms come together and corroborate. Molecules can be in the solid, liquid or gaseous states. 

For example; the compound NO2 is made up of atoms of nitrogen and two atoms of oxygen which together form a molecule of nitrogen dioxide.

Atomic structure

Despite being the smallest structure of matter, atoms are still composed of three more particles. These particles are named as protons, neutrons and electrons. 

Protons contain a positive charge and are present in the center of the atom or what is called the nucleus.

Just like protons, the neutrons too occupy space in the nucleus in the center of the atom but they differ from protons in the sense that neutrons contain no charge.

The electrons are negatively charged and they revolve around the nucleus of atoms in fixed orbits and these orbits with the electrons are called the electron shells.

The properties of atoms differ based on the difference in number of protons, electrons and neutrons.

Another interesting thing to note is that the number of protons and electrons are always equal in a particular atom.

The number of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms can be predicted by making the use of atomic numbers.

Atomic Mass

The first thing that we need to understand is the SI unit of the mass of an atom. The mass of atoms is measured in amu, atomic mass unit or dalton. 

Both protons and neutrons have the same mass that is about  1.67 × 10-24 grams. This is used as the definition for 1 amu or 1 dalton. Neutrons do not have any charge but they contribute to the mass of atoms significantly.

Compared to protons and neutrons, electrons are lighter in mass. They weigh about 9.11 × 10-28 grams. So it can be said that electrons do not make a significant contribution to the mass of an atom but it makes a comparative difference in the negative charge they contain, hence affecting the stability of an atom.

A proton’s charge is denoted as +1 and an electron’s charge is denoted as -1 by scientists. Protons and electrons contain the mass of 1 amu respectively and electrons compose a mass of 0 amu.

Conclusion

Atoms are described as the unit of matter which is the smallest but has all the properties of that particular element.  Despite being the smallest structure of matter, atoms are still composed of three more particles. These particles are named as protons, neutrons and electrons. Both protons and neutrons have the same mass that is about  1.67 × 10-24 grams. This is used as the definition for 1 amu or 1 dalton. Compared to protons and neutrons, electrons are lighter in mass. They weigh about 9.11 × 10-28 grams.