They become more stable because they achieve a full outer shell of valence electrons with the magic number of 8.
In an atom, the number of neutrons determines most specifically the isotopes of an element.
<h2>Further Explanation</h2><h3>An atom </h3>
- An atom is defined as the smallest particle of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction.
- Atoms are made of energy shells and the inner nucleus.
- It is also made up of subatomic particles, protons and neutrons.
<h3>Neutrons </h3>
- They are sub-atomic particles in an atom that are found in the nucleus of an atom. They have a zero charge or no charge.
- Neutrons are slightly heavier than protons.
- The number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus of an atom results to the atomic mass number of an atom. Like protons they only take part in nuclear reactions.
<h3>Protons</h3>
- Protons are subatomic particles that are found in the nucleus of an atom. They are positively charged. with a charge of +1.
- The number of protons differ from one element to another and thus used as the atomic number of an individual element.
- The nucleus of an atom is positively charged due to the positive charge of the protons.
- Additionally, protons do not take part in chemical reactions but in nuclear reactions.
<h3>Electrons </h3>
- They are found orbiting the nucleus on energy shells based on Clouds’ theory. Electrons are negatively charged each with a charge of -1.
- The number of electrons and protons in a neutral atom are equal. Additionally they have the least mass of the three sub-atomic particles.
- Electrons are the only sub-atomic particles that take part in chemical reactions.
<h3>Isotopes </h3>
- Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same mass number but different atomic number.
<h3>Mass number;</h3>
- Mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of an element.
Keywords: Atom, sub-atomic particles, electrons, protons, neutrons, isotopes
<h3>Learn more about:</h3>
Level: High school
Subject: Chemistry
Topic: Atomic structure
