![]() In this case, the nucleus splits and leaves behind different elements. Under certain circumstances, the repelling electromagnetic force becomes stronger than the nuclear force. This force is usually stronger than the electromagnetic force that repels the positively charged protons from one another. The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are attracted to each other by the nuclear force. The electrons of an atom are attracted to the protons in an atomic nucleus by the electromagnetic force. Conversely, if it has more protons than electrons, it has a positive charge, and is called a positive ion (or cation). If an atom has more electrons than protons, then it has an overall negative charge, and is called a negative ion (or anion). If the numbers of protons and electrons are equal, as they normally are, then the atom is electrically neutral as a whole. The electrons are negatively charged, and this opposing charge is what binds them to the nucleus. Protons have a positive electric charge and neutrons have no charge, so the nucleus is positively charged. More than 99.94% of an atom's mass is in the nucleus. Atoms are so small that accurately predicting their behavior using classical physics is not possible due to quantum effects. This is smaller than the shortest wavelength of visible light, which means humans cannot see atoms with conventional microscopes. A human hair is about a million carbon atoms wide. Atoms with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons are called isotopes of the same element.Ītoms are extremely small, typically around 100 picometers across. For example, any atom that contains 11 protons is sodium, and any atom that contains 29 protons is copper. The chemical elements are distinguished from each other by the number of protons that are in their atoms. An atom consists of a nucleus of protons and generally neutrons, surrounded by an electromagnetically-bound swarm of electrons. The atom is the basic particle of the chemical elements. Smallest recognized division of a chemical elementĮlectrons and a compact nucleus of protons and neutrons The black bar is one angstrom ( 10 −10 m or 100 pm). ![]() The nucleus (upper right) in helium-4 is in reality spherically symmetric and closely resembles the electron cloud, although for more complicated nuclei this is not always the case. Because the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons equals the mass number, 127, the number of neutrons is 74 (127 − 53 = 74).An illustration of the helium atom, depicting the nucleus (pink) and the electron cloud distribution (black). The atomic number of iodine (53) tells us that a neutral iodine atom contains 53 protons in its nucleus and 53 electrons outside its nucleus. Determine the numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons in one of these iodine anions. The iodine atoms are added as anions, and each has a 1− charge and a mass number of 127. The addition of small amounts of iodine to table salt (iodized salt) has essentially eliminated this health concern in the United States, but as much as 40% of the world’s population is still at risk of iodine deficiency. (credit a: modification of work by “Almazi”/Wikimedia Commons credit b: modification of work by Mike Mozart) (b) The addition of small amounts of iodine to salt, which prevents the formation of goiters, has helped eliminate this concern in the US where salt consumption is high. ![]() \): (a) Insufficient iodine in the diet can cause an enlargement of the thyroid gland called a goiter.
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