Atoms Definition

Atoms are the basic unit of matter, and they are the smallest particle that retains the chemical properties of an element. Atoms are composed of three types of particles:

• Protons
• Neutrons
• Electrons. 

The protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus, which is at the center of the atom. The electrons revolve in shells or energy levels surrounding the nucleus. Atoms are classified based on the number of protons in their nucleus, which is referred to as the atomic number. The property of elements varies by the number of protons in the atom’s nucleus.

Characteristics of an Atom

Various characteristics of an atom are,

• Atoms are the basic fundamental building blocks of all types of matter.
• Atoms are made up of even smaller particles called electrons, protons, and neutrons.
• In an atom protons and neutrons are inside its nucleus and electrons revolve around it.
• A proton in an atom is a positively charged species, an electron is a negatively charged species, and a neutron is a neutral species.
• As a whole, an atom is an electrically neutral species.
• An atom can donate and accept an electron.
• If an atom donates an electron it became positively charged called a cation.
• If an atom accepts an electron it became negatively charged called an anion.

Atoms and Molecules are the basic building blocks of all matter around us. There are some fundamental differences between atoms and molecules but they are essential in understanding the behavior of the world around us. Initially, atoms were thought to be indestructible, i.e. we can not further break an atom into other parts. But later it was confirmed that atoms can be further divided into fundamental particles. Molecules are groups of one or more types of atoms that combined in a fixed ratio to form a compound.

The basic difference is that an atom is a single structure whereas, a molecule is a structure made of multiple atoms of the same or different kinds. In this article, we will learn about, Atoms, Molecules, their differences, and others in detail.