Structure of

Matter
+ All matter are composed of atoms.
+ Atoms are building blocks of matter
+ Concept of atoms are theorized by Ancient Greeks
+ All atoms are consist of a nucleus made of protons and electrons around orbits
+ Basic properties of protons, electrons, neutrons, and of an atom :
Particle Electric Charge Mass Approximate Size
Electron (eˉ) - 1.6 x 10-19 C 9.1 x 10-31 kg < 10-18 m
Proton (p) 1.6 x 10-19 C 1.6 x 10-27 kg 10-15 m
Neutron (n) 0 1.6 x 10-27 kg 10-15 m
(Np + Nn) x 1.6 x
Atom 0 (neutral) 10-10 m
10 -27 kg
(where Np, Nn are the number of protons and neutrons, respectively, in the nucleus of the atom.)
Other important properties:
+ Mass of proton (mp) is approximately 2000 times the mass of
the electron (me).
+ More than 99% of the volume of an atom is empty space. If the
nucleus of the Hydrogen atom was one inch in diameter the orbit of
the electron would have a radius of ½ mile.
+ Current experiments indicate that the electron has no structure,
it is a true point particle.
+ Protons and neutrons are each comprised of quarks. With the
same experimental limit as the electrons, quarks also have no sub-structure.
+ The wavelength of visible light is of order 5 x 10-7 m. Atoms are typically more than
1000 times smaller than this wavelength.
ATOM
+ 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.
+ smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element.
+ Atoms combine to form molecules, which then interact to form solids, gases, or liquids.
+ Many biological processes are devoted to breaking down molecules into their component atoms so
they can be reassembled into a more useful molecule.
+ Have different properties based on the arrangement and number of their basic particles.
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.
ATOMIC PARTICLES
+ 3 basic particles: protons, electrons, neutrons. The nucleus contains the protons and the
neutrons. The outermost regions of the atom are called electron shells and contain the electrons
(negatively charged).

Structure of an atom: Elements, such as helium, depicted here, are

made up of atoms. Atoms are made up of protons and neutrons located
within the nucleus, with electrons in orbitals surrounding the nucleus.
+ Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass, 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.