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Atoms are the fundamental ingredient of matter. All matter in this universe is made up of atoms. Atoms are known as the building blocks of matter just as the amino acids are building blocks of DNA. Atoms are microscopic in size and cannot be seen with naked eyes. Some matter present in the universe is composed of just one kind of atom. This type of matter is known as an element. Good examples of element are gold, silver, aluminum and oxygen. |
As per physicists, there around 112 different kinds of atoms and thus, today we know 112 different kinds of elements.
Atoms comprise of three particles, namely protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons carry positive charge, electrons carry negative charge, while neutrons carry no charge. The protons and neutrons are located within a central core known as the nucleus. The nucleus is responsible for giving the majority of the mass to an atom. The electrons are located around the nucleus and are in constant state of movement. In an atom, the number of protons is equivalent to the number of electrons. Usually the number of protons is also equal to the number of neutrons, but this is not always the case. In case the number of neutrons differs for an element, then it is known as an isotope of the element.
With the help of advanced technology and highly strong microscopes, physicists have been able to check inside various atoms. They were surprised to learn that most of the space within an atom is empty. The nucleus, which is known to form the major mass of an atom, actually occupies just a very small space in the atom. The electrons that travel around the nucleus follow invisible paths known as shells.
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