Unit-2 chapter-9 Pg: 83,84,85

An atom is like a tiny solar system with most of its mass concentrated in a central nucleus. The interesting thing about charges within an atom is that they come in two flavors: positive and negative, and they attract each other.

charged players:

• Protons: These reside in the nucleus and carry a positive charge.

• Electrons: Whizzing around the nucleus in regions called orbitals, electrons carry a negative charge.

The number of protons in an atom exactly balances the number of electrons. This means the positive and negative charges cancel each other out, making the overall atom electrically neutral. It's like having the same number of plus and minus signs - they add up to zero. However, this balance can be tipped. If an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion. An atom with more electrons than protons becomes negatively charged, and one with fewer electrons than protons becomes positively charged. This plays a crucial role in chemical reactions where atoms exchange electrons to form bonds.

points to consider:

• The charge of a proton and an electron are equal in magnitude but opposite in sign.

• Neutrons, another resident of the nucleus, are electrically neutral - they don't carry any charge.

• The distribution of electrons around the nucleus is not random. They occupy specific energy levels called orbitals, which determine their behavior and influence how atoms interact with each other.