The Atom
What is an atom?
The atom is a miniscule unit of matter with a central nucleus made up of electrically neutral neutrons and positively charged protons surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons that are kept around it by an electromagnetic force (except for hydrogen-1, which is the only stable neuclide with no neutrons). An atom containing an equal number of protons and electrons is electrically neutral, otherwise it is positively or negatively charged and is known as an ion. It's so small that it cannot be seen by an ordinary microscope, you would need to use a Scanning electron microscope.
What is a proton?
The proton is a subatomic hadron partical, it's a positively charged hadron that is composed of two up quarks and one down quark. The number of protons determines with element the atom is (ex. carbon, hydrogen, etc.).
What is a neutron?
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle, it's an electronicaly neutral hadron that is composed of two up quarks and one down quark. The number of neutrons determines the isotope of the element.
What is an isotope?
An isotope is an Atom with the same number of protons, but differing numbers of neutrons. Carbon 12 and Carbon 14 are both isotopes of carbon, one with 6 neutrons and one with 8 neutrons (both with 6 protons).
How is the atom held together?
The atom is held together by electromagnetic wave mechanics into orbitals around the nucleus to form the atom.
