Basic+Atomic+structure

=Basic Atomic Structure=

We assume by now that you know that everything is made up of atoms otherwise this is the wrong course for you.

You need to be totally familiar with the basic make up of an atom, without having to think about it. If you are confessing to not knowing this at this stage than try this link for a recap on the real basics.

We won't have time to review this as part of the A-level course and this knowledge will be taken as given.

However, if you need a few prompts to remind you

[[image:key2.jpg width="57" height="57"]]Key ideas
__**P**__rotons are __**p**__ositively charged - p for proton p for positive


 * __Neut__**rons are **__neut__**ral (don't start thinking that they have a negative charge because they start with an 'n')

and if you write electrons as e- this might remind you of their charge.

Most of the mass of an atom is concentrated in the nucleus - where the protons and neutrons are found - these have a mass

Electrons really don't appear to weigh anything at all in comparrison but it's electrons that pretty much determine all of the chemistry you will learn about.

Make sure you know this.
 * Isotopes** are atoms of the same element which have the **same number of protons** (and therefore the same number of electrons) but a **different number of neutrons**

You can click here for a tutorial on these basics with some self- assessment questions built in. Give it a go.