The structure of an atom

Dwayne

Atoms compose of electrons neighboring or encircling a nucleus that contains protons and neutrons.

You will notice that neutrons are neutral, but protons and electrons are electrically charged. Protons have a relative charge of +1, while electrons have a relative charge of -1.

The quantity of protons in an atom is called its atomic number. In looking at the periodic table atoms are set in atomic number arrangement.

Electrons are organized in energy levels or shells, and different energy levels can embrace different numbers of electrons. The electronic structure of an atom is a depiction of how the electrons are organized, which can be revealed in a diagram or by numbers. There is a relationship between the location of an element in the periodic table and its electronic structure.

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