 Atoms are made up of

particles called protons,

neutrons and electrons,
which are responsible for
the mass and charge of
atoms.
 An atom is composed of two regions: the
nucleus, which is in the center of the atom and
contains protons and neutrons, and the outer
region of the atom, which holds its electrons in
orbit around the nucleus.
 Protons and neutrons have approximately the
same mass, about about 1.67 × 10-24 grams,
which scientists define as one atomic mass unit
(amu) or one Dalton.
 Each electron has a negative charge (-1) equal to
the positive charge of a proton (+1).
 Neutrons are uncharged particles found within the
nucleus.
Key Terms
 atom: The smallest possible amount of matter
which still retains its identity as a chemical
element, consisting of a nucleus surrounded by
electrons.
 proton: Positively charged subatomic particle
forming part of the nucleus of an atom and
determining the atomic number of an element. It
weighs 1 amu.
 neutron: A subatomic particle forming part of the
nucleus of an atom. It has no charge. It is equal in
mass to a proton or it weighs 1 amu.
 A typical atom consists of three subatomic
particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons (as seen
in the helium atom below). Other particles exist as
well, such as alpha and beta particles. The Bohr
model shows the three basic subatomic particles in
a simple manner. Most of an atom's mass is in
the nucleus—a small, dense area at the center of
every atom, composed of nucleons. Nucleons
include protons and neutrons. All the positive
charge of an atom is contained in the nucleus, and
originates from the protons. Neutrons are
neutrally-charged. Electrons, which are negatively-
charged, are located outside of the nucleus.
 Au is the SI symbol for atomic mass unit.
 The positive charge of protons cancels the negative
charge of the electrons. Neutrons have no charge.
 With regard to mass, protons and neutrons are
very similar, and have a much greater mass than
electrons. Compared with neutrons and protons,
the mass of an electron is usually negligible.
 Spin is associated with the rotation of a particle.
Protons, neutrons, and electrons each have a total
spin of 1/2.
 Protons
 Protons were discovered by Ernest Rutherford
in the year 1919, when he performed his gold
foil experiment. He projected alpha particles
(helium nuclei) at gold foil, and the positive
alpha particles were deflected. He concluded
that protons exist in a nucleus and have a
positive nuclear charge. The atomic number or
proton number is the number of protons
present in an atom. The atomic number
determines an element (e.g., the element of
atomic number 6 is carbon).
 Electrons
 Electrons were discovered by Sir John Joseph Thomson in
1897. After many experiments involving cathode rays, J.J.
Thomson demonstrated the ratio of mass to electric charge
of cathode rays. He confirmed that cathode rays are
fundamental particles that are negatively-charged; these
cathode rays became known as electrons. Robert Millikan,
through oil drop experiments, found the value of the
electronic charge.
 Electrons are located in an electron cloud, which is the area
surrounding the nucleus of the atom. There is usually a
higher probability of finding an electron closer to to the
nucleus of an atom. Electrons can abbreviated as e-.
Electrons have a negative charge that is equal in magnitude
to the positive charge of the protons. However, their mass is
considerably less than that of a proton or neutron (and as
such is usually considered insignificant). Unequal amounts
of protons and electrons create ions: positive cations or
negative anions.
 Neutrons
 Neutrons were discovered by James Chadwick
in 1932, when he demonstrated that
penetrating radiation incorporated beams of
neutral particles. Neutrons are located in the
nucleus with the protons. Along with protons,
they make up almost all of the mass of the
atom. The number of neutrons is called the
neutron number and can be found by
subtracting the proton number from the atomic
mass number. The neutrons in an element
determine the isotope of an atom, and often its
stability. The number of neutrons is not
necessarily equal to the number of protons.