Atoms 101
Numbers (mostly)
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100

How are protons in the nucleus of an atom able to stay close to one another even though they have the same charge?

Protons are able to stay close to one another in the nucleus of an atom because of strong force. This force (strong force) is greater than the force of the electromagnetic force.

100

Each element has two numbers. What is the top number? What is the bottom number?

The top number, on the periodic table, of an element represents the atomic number of the element, and the bottom number of the element represents the atomic mass of the element.

100

  1. What is the mass number of an atom that has 3 protons and 4 neutrons?

    1. 3
    2. 4
    3. 10
    4. 7

ANSWER:  4

3 protons plus 4 neutrons gives a mass number of 7.

100

The electronic structure 2,5 is for which of the following elements?

  1. Boron.
  2. Phosphorous.
  3. Helium.
  4. Nitrogen.

ANSWER: 4. Nitrogen.

100

When particles in a solid are arranged in a regular pattern, they form what we call a:

  1. lump
  2. fluid
  3. crystal
  4. shape

ANSWER: 3 Crystal

200

Compare protons and neutrons.  

What are protons? What are neutrons?

Protons are positively charged particles in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons are neutral charged (no charge) particles that are located in the nucleus of the atom.

200

Using the periodic table, determine which two groups have highly reactive metals.

The two groups that have highly reactive metals are the alkaline metals (Group 1) and the alkali Earth metals (Group 2).

200

Which of the elements below will have the same number of electrons in its outer shell as the atom shown?

  1. Chlorine.
  2. Aluminium.
  3. Carbon.
  4. Potassium.

ANSWER:  4.

Both potassium and the atom of lithium shown are in group I (1) of the periodic table and have one electron in their outer shells.

200

To which period does the element with the electronic configuration 2,8,7 belong?

  1. Fourth.
  2. Second.
  3. Third.
  4. First.

ANSWER:  3.  Three numbers in the electronic configuration means that this element is in the third period.

200

The diagram shows the changes in state of water (H2O). What is the process Y called?

  1. Boiling
  2. Evaporation
  3. Freezing
  4. Melting


ANSWER:  1 Boiling
300

What would happen to a nucleus containing two or more protons if the strong force were absent?

If there were two or more protons in the nucleus of an atom and no strong force the protons will repel from each other causing the nucleus to fly apart.

300

Of the gases oxygen, argon, chlorine, and neon, which would be the two most chemically reactive?

Of those gases listed, the most reactive ones will be oxygen and chlorine because the gases neon and argon are noble gases and are non-reactive.

300

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

(a) Protons have a charge of -1.
(b) Neutrons have no charge.
(c) An electron has negligible mass compared to the mass of a neutron.

  1. Statements (a) and (c)
  2. Statements (b) and (c)
  3. Statement (c) only
  4. Statement (b) only

ANSWER: 2 

  • Statements (b) and (c)
300

Which of the elements shown in the periodic table has 2 electrons in its outer shell?

  1. Boron
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Chlorine
  4. Calcium

ANSWER:  4. Calcium

300

Which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. Liquids cannot be compressed or expanded.
  2. Gases are easier to compress than solids.
  3. Gases cannot be compressed.
  4. Solids are easily compressed.

ANSWER: 2 

  • Gases are easier to compress than solids.
400

What is an atom’s mass number equal to?

The atomic mass is equal to the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. (The number of electrons is relatively negligible compared to the mass of protons and neutrons)

400

Is it possible to have carbon atoms with different numbers of protons? Explain.

A carbon atom cannot have different numbers of protons in the nucleus of the atom because when the number of protons change, then the atomic number will change, which means the element will change.

400

  1. The period in which an element is located gives us

    1. the number of electron shells that the electron has.
    2. the electronic configuration of that element.
    3. the number of neutrons in that element.
    4.  the number of electrons in its outer shell.

ANSWER: 1.  the number of electron shells that the electron has.

400

When the temperature of a liquid is increased a little, what happens to its particles?

  1. They stop vibrating.
  2. They come closer together.
  3. They start vibrating more.
  4. They move so far apart that the liquid becomes a gas.

ANSWER:  3 They start vibrating more

400

There are many videos online which claim cats are liquid. They claim this because cats appear to:

A. Take the shape of their container

B. Float in the air

C. Move without any force acting upon them

A. Take the shape of their container

Discussion time: 

IS A CAT A LIQUID?

500

Explain why hydrogen is unique

Hydrogen is unique because it does not fit into the characteristics of any one group in the periodic table.

500


  1. The diagram on the right shows the structure of an atom. What are the parts labelled A and B?

    1. A = electron, B = nucleus.
    2. A = proton, B = nucleus.
    3. A = nucleus, B = electron.
    4. A = neutron, B = proton.

ANSWER:  1.  A = electron, B = nucleus.

500

What is the charge on an electron?

  1. Minus two.
  2. Minus one.
  3. No charge.
  4. Plus one.

ANSWER: 2. Minus one.

500

The melting point of H2O is

  1. 20 ºC
  2. 100 ºC
  3. 0 ºC
  4. 10 ºC

ANSWER:  0 degrees Celcius

500

Which one of the following is not a property of a gas?

  1. No definite shape
  2. Definite mass
  3. Can be compressed
  4. Definite volume

ANSWER: 4, definite volume

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