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Radioactivity

Protons, neutrons and isotopes

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

The particles in a nucleus and their charges and masses, what nucleons are, what an isotope is, and how mass number and atomic number give the neutron count and nuclear charge.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which two kinds of particle make up the nucleus of an atom?

Key term

What is the relative charge of a proton and what is the relative charge of a neutron?

Key term

Which count of particles in the nucleus gives an element its characteristic positive charge?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which two kinds of particle make up the nucleus of an atom?

    Model answer

    The nucleus is made of protons and neutrons.

  2. 2

    What is the relative charge of a proton and what is the relative charge of a neutron?

    Model answer

    A proton has a relative charge of +1 and a neutron has no charge at all.

  3. 3

    Why does the nucleus of every atom carry a positive charge?

    Model answer

    It contains positively charged protons, and the neutrons alongside them are neutral, so the overall nuclear charge is positive.

  4. 4

    Which count of particles in the nucleus gives an element its characteristic positive charge?

    Model answer

    The number of protons, because each proton contributes a charge of +1.

  5. 5

    The nucleus of a boron atom carries a charge of +5. How many protons does it contain?

    Model answer

    It contains five protons.

  6. 6

    What name is given to the protons and neutrons of a nucleus taken together?

    Model answer

    They are called nucleons.

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