AQA · Chemistry · 8462

GCSE Chemistry (AQA): Atoms

Topic 11 — Required Practicals. Generated from the caption track of Cognito's lesson video "Atoms & Ions | Protons, Neutrons, Electrons (2027/28 Exams)"; each card deep-links to the moment in the video it came from. Lesson 1.01 of Cognito's AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) and Chemistry course (Higher tier), filed under AQA Chemistry 8462. Teaching by Cognito — https://cognitoedu.org/coursesubtopic/c2-gcse-aqa-h-c_1.01.

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  1. What does the atomic number of an element tell you?

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    The number of protons in an atom of that element — this is what determines which element it is.

  2. How many neutrons does a lithium atom with mass number 7 have?

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    4 neutrons (7 − 3).

  3. Does an atom that gains two electrons form a 2+ or a 2− ion?

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    A 2− ion — the extra negative electrons outnumber the positive protons.

  4. The nucleus is about ? times smaller in width than the whole atom.

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    10,000

  5. An electron's mass is about ? times smaller than a proton's, so its relative mass is taken as very small or zero.

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    2,000

  6. What is the relative mass of a proton and of a neutron?

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    Both have a relative mass of 1.

  7. What does the mass number of an atom tell you?

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    The total number of protons and neutrons in the atom.

  8. How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?

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    Mass number − atomic number. E.g. oxygen: 16 − 8 = 8 neutrons.

  9. What are the relative charges of a proton, a neutron and an electron?

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    Proton +1, neutron 0, electron −1.

  10. Which two particles make up the nucleus of an atom?

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    Protons and neutrons.

  11. Why is an atom neutral overall?

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    It has equal numbers of protons and electrons, so the +1 and −1 charges cancel out.

  12. What is an ion?

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    An atom that has lost or gained electrons, so its charges no longer balance and it is charged overall.

  13. What is the basic structure of an atom?

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    A central nucleus surrounded by electrons orbiting in rings called shells.

  14. What is the approximate radius of an atom?

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    About 0.1 nanometres (1 × 10⁻¹⁰ m).

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