The Fascinating World of Atoms

What happens when the number of protons in an atom changes?

Changing the number of protons in an atom makes:

A. an ion

B. an isotope

C. a molecule

Answer:

The correct answer is A. an ion. The atom gains a net electrical charge if the number of protons and electrons are not equal which makes it an ion.

Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter and are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number, which in turn determines the element.

When the number of protons in an atom changes, it becomes an ion. An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative charge. This imbalance in the number of protons and electrons results in the atom becoming an ion.

Isotopes, on the other hand, are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. They do not result from changing the number of protons in an atom, but rather from variations in the number of neutrons.

Understanding the behavior of atoms and the changes they undergo is essential in studying chemistry and the fundamental properties of matter.