There are more than 109 different types of atom – one for each element. Differences between the atoms give the elements their different chemical properties.
Can there be different atoms?
Can atoms be different?
Two atoms of the same element can be different if their electrons are in different states. If one copper atom has an electron in an excited state and another copper atom has all of its electrons in the ground state, then the two atoms are different.
Are all atoms exactly the same?
Everything in this world are matter and comprises of atoms. But each and every atom is unique. They are not the same at all. Every atom consists of three basic units protons, neutrons, and electrons and these units determine the physical and chemical properties of an atom and matter.
Can atoms of an element be different?
ISOTOPES AND ATOMIC MASSES For many of the chemical elements there are several known isotopes. Isotopes are atoms with different atomic masses which have the same atomic number. The atoms of different isotopes are atoms of the same chemical element; they differ in the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
Are all atoms the same kind?
Yes, all things are made of atoms, and all atoms are made of the same three basic particles – protons, neutrons, and electrons. But, all atoms are not the same. You know that the number of protons in an atom determines what element you have. For instance hydrogen has one proton, carbon has six.
Are humans made of atoms?
About 99 percent of your body is made up of atoms of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. You also contain much smaller amounts of the other elements that are essential for life. … The very heavy elements in you were made in exploding stars. The size of an atom is governed by the average location of its electrons.
Why are atoms of different elements different?
What makes atoms of various elements different from each other is their number of protons. In other words, each element is composed of atoms that have a specific number of protons.
Can atoms be divided?
Researchers have just shown how a single atom can be split into its two halves, pulled apart and put back together again. While the word "atom" literally means "indivisible," the laws of quantum mechanics allow dividing atoms — similarly to light rays — and reuniting them.
Can atoms be created or destroyed?
No atoms are destroyed or created. The bottom line is: Matter cycles through the universe in many different forms. In any physical or chemical change, matter doesn't appear or disappear. Atoms created in the stars (a very, very long time ago) make up every living and nonliving thing on Earth—even you.