What Is An Atom?

    Published: 06-16-2009
    Views: 15,797
    Science expert Emerald Robinson explains what an atom is.

    Emerald Robinson: Hi! I am Emerald Robinson, and in this "What Is" video, we're going to take a closer look at atoms.


    Atoms are the building blocks for everything in the universe including ourselves. People often think of atoms as the smallest possible forms of matter, but even smaller particles make up atoms.

    Each atom has a dense center called a nucleus. The nucleus contains neutrons, which have a neutral electric charge and protons, which are positively charged.

    The number of protons in an atom determines an element's physical properties. No two elements have the same number of protons. Revolving around the nucleus like planets around the Sun are negatively charged particles called electrons.

    Electrons and protons attract each other. So atoms usually have equal numbers of the two particles. Scientists assign atoms an atomic number and atomic mass unit. The atomic number is the number of protons present in the atom.

    For instance, a helium atom has two protons, so helium's atomic number is 2. Add the number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus together and you get the Atomic Mass Unit or AMU.

    A helium atom has two protons and two new neutrons, so has a mass 4 AMU. Electrons have almost no mass and are not included in AMU calculations. While an atom's number of protons remains constant, individual atoms can loose or gain electrons.

    Atoms with different ratios of electrons to protons are called Ions. Atoms of the same element call also have extra neutrons. Scientist called atoms with extra neutrons, Isotopes.

    Despite of having different neutron counts, Isotopes retain their element's chemical properties because the number of protons remains constant.