Atoms Structure

AQA Physics GCSE
4.4.1 - Atoms and Isotopes

Flashcards
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Give an approximation for the radius of
an atom.
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Give an approximation for the radius of an atom.
1x10⁻¹⁰ metres
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What are the three subatomic
constituents of an atom?
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What are the three subatomic constituents of an
atom?
1. Proton
2. Neutron
3. Electron
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Where is most of the mass of an atom
concentrated?
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Where is most of the mass of an atom concentrated?
In the nucleus.
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Approximately what proportion of the
total radius of an atom is the radius of
the nucleus?
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Approximately what proportion of the total radius of
an atom is the radius of the nucleus?
1/10,000
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Describe the arrangement of protons,
neutrons and electrons in an atom.
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Describe the arrangement of protons, neutrons and
electrons in an atom.
● The protons and neutrons are found in

the atom’s nucleus
● The electrons are found in discrete
energy levels around the nucleus
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What type of charge does the nucleus of
an atom have? Why?
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What type of charge does the nucleus of an atom
have? Why?
● Positive charge
● The nucleus contains protons and neutrons
● Protons have a positive charge
● Neutrons have no charge
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Give two ways that an atom’s electron
arrangement can be changed.
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Give two ways that an atom’s electron arrangement
can be changed.
1. Absorbing electromagnetic radiation

2. Emitting electromagnetic radiation
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Explain how an atom’s electron
arrangement changes when it absorbs
EM radiation.
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Explain how an atom’s electron arrangement
changes when it absorbs EM radiation.
● Electrons move further away from the

nucleus
● They move to a higher energy level
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Explain how an atom’s electron
arrangement changes when it emits EM
radiation.
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Explain how an atom’s electron arrangement
changes when it emits EM radiation.
● Electrons move closer to the nucleus

● They move to a lower energy level
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How does the ratio of electrons to
protons in an atom result in the atom
having no overall charge?
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How does the ratio of electrons to protons in an atom
result in the atom having no overall charge?
● The number of protons is equal to the

number of electrons
● Protons and electrons have equal and
opposite charges, so charge cancels
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What do all forms of the same element
have in common?
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What do all forms of the same element have in
common?
They all have the same number of

protons.
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What is the name given to the number of
protons in an atom?
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What is the name given to the number of protons in
an atom?
Atomic Number
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What is an atom’s mass number?
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What is an atom’s mass number?
The total number of protons and

neutrons in the atom.
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What is an isotope of an atom?
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What is an isotope of an atom?
An atom of an element that has a

different number of neutrons, but the
same number of protons.
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How do atoms turn into positive ions?
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How do atoms turn into positive ions?
● They lose one or more of their outer

electrons
● Electrons are negatively charged, so
the resultant charge of the atom is
positive
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What may lead to a scientific model
being changed or replaced?
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What may lead to a scientific model being changed
or replaced?
The discovery of new experimental

evidence which doesn’t agree with the
existing theory.
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How did the plum-pudding model
describe the atom?
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How did the plum-pudding model describe the atom?
A ball of positive charge, with negatively

charged electrons distributed evenly
throughout it.
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Prior to the discovery of the electron
what was believed about the atom?
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Prior to the discovery of the electron, what was
believed about the atom?
The atom was believed to be indivisible.
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Which experiment led to the
plum-pudding model being discarded?
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Which experiment led to the plum-pudding model
being discarded?
Rutherford’s alpha-scattering
experiment.
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What is the name given to the currently
accepted model of the atom?
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What is the name given to the currently accepted
model of the atom?
The Bohr nuclear model.
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State the conclusions of the
Alpha-Scattering experiment.
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State the conclusions of the Alpha-Scattering
experiment.
● Most of the mass of the atom is

concentrated at the centre in the
nucleus
● The nucleus is positively charged
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What reinforces a scientific theory?
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What reinforces a scientific theory?
When experimental results agree with

the hypothesised theoretical calculations
and theories.
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What did James Chadwick’s experiments
on the atom prove?
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What did James Chadwick’s experiments on the
atom prove?
The existence of neutrons.
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AQA Physics GCSE

4.4.1 - Atoms and Isotopes

● The protons and neutrons are found in

1. Absorbing electromagnetic radiation

● Electrons move further away from the

● Electrons move closer to the nucleus

● The number of protons is equal to the

They all have the same number of

The total number of protons and

An atom of an element that has a

● They lose one or more of their outer

The discovery of new experimental

A ball of positive charge, with negatively

The atom was believed to be indivisible.

The Bohr nuclear model.

● Most of the mass of the atom is

When experimental results agree with

The existence of neutrons.

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