31st Dec '25

Atomic Structure

Chemistry is the study of the of atoms and how they interact with each other. Our models of the atom have to explain all of the behaviours that have been observed.

Dmitri attempted to classify the elements according to their chemical properties. He noticed patterns that led him to his . While others had done similar things it was his vision and understanding that lead him to leave for undiscovered elements. He predicted the properties of silicon before it was discovered.

The periodic table and all of chemistry can be explained using Niels 's atom model, which states:

The relative masses of protons, neutrons and electrons and their relative charges are as shown:
Particle Mass Charge
Proton
Neutron
Electron

The number (or proton number) is the number of protons within an atom. It is this that will determine the properties of an atom and therefore which element it is.

The number is the number of protons + the number of neutrons.

The is a more precise measurement of an atoms mass compared to Carbon-12 which is said to have a RAM of 12.