Atomic Structure Showdown
This subatomic particle has a negative charge and orbits the nucleus.
Electron
He proposed that atoms are tiny, indivisible particles.
Democritus
Elements are arranged by this number on the periodic table.
atomic number
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons are called this.
isotopes
What movie features a scientist who says, “Great Scott!” while traveling through time in a DeLorean?
Back to the Future
The nucleus of an atom contains these two subatomic particles.
Protons and Neutrons
His model looked like a “plum pudding” with electrons spread throughout a positive sphere.
J.J. Thomson
These are vertical columns on the periodic table.
groups or families
The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom.
mass number
What element makes up most of the Sun’s mass?
Hydrogen
The number of these determines an element’s identity.
Protons
His gold foil experiment revealed that atoms have a dense, positive nucleus.
Ernest Rutherford
These elements are mostly shiny, malleable, and good conductors.
metals
To find the number of neutrons, subtract this from the mass number.
atomic number or protons
You’re running a race and you pass the person in 2nd place. What place are you in now?
2nd place
An atom becomes positively charged when this happens.
Losing electrons
This scientist proposed that electrons travel in fixed energy levels around the nucleus.
Niels Bohr
Elements on the far right of the periodic table that rarely react.
noble gases
This type of ion has more electrons than protons.
negative ion
Which planet in our solar system could float in a giant bathtub because it’s mostly made of gas and has a very low density?
Saturn
This force holds protons together in the nucleus despite their repulsion.
Strong nuclear force
This modern model shows electrons moving in a cloud-like region instead of set paths.
electron cloud model
This type of element, found along the stair-step line, has properties of both metals and nonmetals.
metalloids
An element has isotopes of masses 10 and 11. If its average atomic mass is 10.8 amu, which isotope is more abundant?
the isotope with mass 11
What’s the only letter that doesn’t appear in any U.S. state name?
The letter Q