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Structure of the atom

The typical size of atoms and small molecules is around 1 脳 10-10 m (0.1 nm). For example:

diameter of a hydrogen atom, H1.0 脳 10-10 m
width of a hydrogen molecule, H22.9 脳 10-10 m
length of an H-H bond0.74 脳 10-10 m
diameter of a hydrogen atom, H
1.0 脳 10-10 m
width of a hydrogen molecule, H2
2.9 脳 10-10 m
length of an H-H bond
0.74 脳 10-10 m

Nucleus and shells

An consists of:

  • a positively charged
  • surrounded by negatively charged
Carbon atom with the nucleus and an electron labelled
Figure caption,
The structure of a carbon atom, not drawn to scale

Compared to an atom as a whole:

  • the radius of the nucleus is much smaller than the radius of the atom
  • the nucleus contains almost all of the mass

Learn more on atomic structure in this podcast.

Subatomic particles

The of all atoms contain called and most also contain .

Structure of a carbon atom, with a proton, neutron and electron labelled
Figure caption,
The structure of a carbon atom, not drawn to scale

The of subatomic particles are very tiny. Instead of writing their actual masses in kilograms, we often use their . The relative mass of a proton is 1, and a particle with a relative mass smaller than 1 has less mass.

Protons and electrons have opposite electrical .

Subatomic particleRelative massRelative charge
Proton1+1
Neutron10
Electron0.0005-1
Subatomic particleProton
Relative mass1
Relative charge+1
Subatomic particleNeutron
Relative mass1
Relative charge0
Subatomic particleElectron
Relative mass0.0005
Relative charge-1

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