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Which subatomic particle carries a positive charge?
Neutron
Proton
Electron
Photon
Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. Electrons carry a negative charge and neutrons are neutral. Photons are particles of light without charge. Learn more about protons here.
Which subatomic particle has no electric charge?
Positron
Neutron
Electron
Proton
Neutrons are neutral particles with no electric charge, located in the nucleus alongside protons. Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, and positrons are positively charged antimatter electrons. Further reading on neutrons.
Which subatomic particle orbits the nucleus of an atom?
Neutron
Alpha particle
Electron
Proton
Electrons are negatively charged particles that occupy regions of space called orbitals around the nucleus. Protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus itself, and alpha particles are helium nuclei ejected in radioactive decay. Khan Academy on atomic structure.
What is the mass number of an atom that has 6 protons and 6 neutrons?
6
12
18
36
The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. Here, 6 protons + 6 neutrons = 12. Electrons contribute negligible mass. More on mass number.
Atomic number defines the number of which particle in an atom?
Neutrons
Electrons
Photons
Protons
The atomic number is the count of protons in an atom's nucleus and determines the element's identity. In a neutral atom, it also equals the number of electrons. Neutrons vary in isotopes, and photons are not part of the atom's core structure. RSC on atomic number.
Which subatomic particle has a very small mass compared to the others?
Electron
Proton
Muon
Neutron
Electrons have a mass about 1/1836 that of a proton or neutron, making their mass negligible in atomic mass calculations. Protons and neutrons have similar masses, while muons are heavier unstable particles. CK-12 on electron mass.
In a neutral sodium atom with 11 protons, how many electrons are present?
10
12
22
11
A neutral atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons. Sodium's atomic number is 11, so it has 11 electrons when uncharged. Losing or gaining electrons creates ions. NASA resource on charges and electrons.
Which combination of particles is found in the nucleus of every atom?
Protons and Electrons
Protons and Neutrons
Electrons and Neutrons
Electrons and Photons
An atom's nucleus contains protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutral). Electrons orbit outside the nucleus, and photons are particles of light, not constituents of atoms. Jefferson Lab on atomic nucleus.
What term describes atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons?
Isomers
Isotopes
Allotropes
Ions
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with identical proton numbers but varying neutron counts. Ions differ in electron number and charge. Allotropes are different structural forms of an element, and isomers refer to molecules with the same formula but different arrangement. Definition of isotopes.
Chlorine-37 has 17 protons. How many neutrons does it have?
17
20
37
54
The mass number equals protons plus neutrons. For chlorine-37, 37 ? 17 = 20 neutrons. The atomic number 17 is the proton count. More on isotopic notation.
A sodium ion (Na?) has 11 protons. How many electrons does it have?
11
10
12
9
Na? indicates a loss of one electron from the neutral atom. A neutral sodium atom has 11 electrons; losing one leaves 10. Protons remain unchanged. Live Science on ions.
What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy the second energy level (shell)?
2
32
8
18
The formula 2n² gives the maximum electrons per principal energy level. For n=2, 2(2²)=8. The first shell (n=1) holds 2 electrons, the third holds 18, and so on. LibreTexts on electron shells.
Which element has an atomic number of 12?
Sodium
Magnesium
Aluminum
Silicon
Magnesium has atomic number 12, which means 12 protons in its nucleus. Sodium is 11, aluminum is 13, and silicon is 14. RSC on magnesium.
Which principle states that electrons fill the lowest available energy levels first?
Pauli Exclusion Principle
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
Hund's Rule
Aufbau Principle
The Aufbau Principle directs that electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals before filling higher ones. Hund's Rule concerns orbital filling within sublevels, and Pauli Exclusion restricts electrons sharing quantum states. LibreTexts on Aufbau Principle.
What determines the chemical identity of an element?
Number of neutrons
Number of electrons
Atomic mass
Number of protons
An element's identity is defined by its proton count, or atomic number. Neutron count defines isotopes, electrons determine charge and chemical behavior, and atomic mass is a combined effect. Britannica on atomic number.
Carbon-14 has a mass number of 14 and 6 protons. How many neutrons are present?
6
8
14
20
Neutron count = mass number ? proton count. For carbon-14: 14 ? 6 = 8 neutrons. This isotope is used in radiocarbon dating. Nature Education on isotopes.
Which carbon isotope is radioactive and used in radiocarbon dating?
Carbon-14
Carbon-13
Carbon-12
Carbon-11
Carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes beta decay, making it useful for dating formerly living materials. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are stable isotopes. Carbon-11 is radioactive but used in PET scans, not dating. Britannica on radiocarbon dating.
Calcium ion Ca²? has 20 protons. How many electrons does it have?
19
22
18
20
Ca²? indicates the atom has lost two electrons, so 20 ? 2 = 18 electrons remain. Proton count stays at 20, giving the +2 net charge. LibreTexts on ion formation.
An atom has an atomic number of 17 and a mass number of 35. How many neutrons does it contain?
52
35
18
17
Neutrons = mass number ? atomic number = 35 ? 17 = 18. Protons = 17 defines the element. The remaining mass comes from neutrons. Khan Academy.
Which particles determine an atom's chemical behavior?
Nuclei
Electrons
Neutrons
Protons
Chemical reactions involve interactions between electrons, especially valence electrons. Protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus and influence identity and mass but not chemical bonding directly. Visionlearning on chemical behavior.
The principal quantum number 'n' indicates what property of an electron in an atom?
Spin orientation
Orbital shape
Magnetic moment
Energy level
The principal quantum number (n) indicates the main energy level or shell occupied by an electron. Subshell shape is given by the azimuthal quantum number. Spin and magnetic properties have their own quantum numbers. LibreTexts on quantum numbers.
According to the Bohr model of the atom, electrons occupy _____?
Nucleus
Random cloud regions
Energy sub-levels only
Specific circular orbits
Bohr proposed that electrons move in fixed circular orbits around the nucleus with quantized energy levels. Modern quantum theory uses orbitals, but Bohr's model introduced the energy level concept. Britannica on Bohr model.
What is the maximum number of electrons that the third energy level can hold?
32
2
18
8
Using the formula 2n² with n=3 gives 2×3²=18 electrons. The third shell can hold 18 electrons before the fourth shell begins filling. Chemguide on electron shells.
The mass defect of a nucleus is related to the binding energy by which equation?
E = 1/2 mv²
E = hv
E = m × g
E = ?m × c²
Mass defect (?m) is the difference between the mass of separate nucleons and the actual nucleus mass. Einstein's equation E = ?m c² relates this mass difference to nuclear binding energy. Other formulas apply to mechanics or photon energy. Nuclear Binding Energy.
Which isotope is most likely to undergo beta-minus decay?
Oxygen-16
Uranium-238
Carbon-12
Carbon-14
Beta-minus decay occurs in neutron-rich isotopes; carbon-14 (6 protons, 8 neutrons) decays by converting a neutron to a proton and electron emission. Carbon-12 and oxygen-16 are stable, and uranium-238 decays by alpha emission primarily. Beta Decay Details.
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Study Outcomes
Identify subatomic particles -
Distinguish between protons, neutrons, and electrons and describe their fundamental properties within the atom.
Calculate atomic composition -
Use atomic and mass numbers to compute the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons for any element.
Analyze aluminum's structure -
Determine how many protons, electrons, and neutrons are in aluminum by applying given worksheet data.
Use the practice worksheet answers -
Leverage the protons neutrons electrons practice worksheet answer key to validate your calculations and reinforce accuracy.
Evaluate your quiz performance -
Interpret instant feedback from the protons neutrons electrons quiz to identify strengths and areas for further study.
Cheat Sheet
Understanding Atomic and Mass Numbers -
Atomic number (Z) defines the number of protons and, in a neutral atom, equals the number of electrons; mass number (A) equals protons plus neutrons. Use A = Z + N to find neutrons: for aluminum-27 (A=27, Z=13), N = 27 − 13 = 14. Mastering this formula is key for protons neutrons electrons practice worksheet answers.
Electron Configuration and Shells -
Electrons occupy energy levels following the 2n² rule (n=shell number), guiding you through valence electron count. For aluminum (Z=13), the configuration is 2, 8, 3, so it has 3 valence electrons. This structure explains reactivity trends and is essential for any protons neutrons electrons quiz.
Isotopes and Average Atomic Mass -
Isotopes share the same Z but different N; notation is written as ²A❿X. Calculate average atomic mass by weighting each isotope's mass by its natural abundance (e.g., chlorine-35 and -37). Universities like MIT and IUPAC recommend this approach for accurate protons neutrons electrons practice worksheet answer key prep.
Ions: Charges Explained -
When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion: cations (+) have fewer electrons, anions (−) have more. For instance, Na+ (Z=11) has lost one electron (11e❻ → 10e❻). Recognizing this shift underpins many worksheet answers on protons neutrons electrons.
Handy Mnemonic: "A = Z + N" -
Remember "A equals Z plus N" to quickly recall how many neutrons are in any atom. Pair this with "Z = protons = electrons (neutral)" for speedy recall under quiz pressure. This trick, endorsed in college chemistry courses, boosts your confidence on every protons neutrons electrons practice worksheet answers challenge.
