Learn about atoms, the fundamental unit of matter in the universe. Discover the different parts of an atom, such as the nucleus, proton, neutron, and electrons. Also, explore atomic bonding, the way atoms join
rather than in a straight line. That's why their velocity is known asdrift velocity, or Vd. It is because of this drift velocity that electrons collide with atoms of the material or other electrons inside the
Some elements have atoms that can include more than one number of neutrons in their nuclei. Isotopes are elements that have the same atomic number (which - as stated above - is what makes them the same element) but different Mass Numbers (A), due to different numbers of neutrons in ...
In some situations, matter is converted into energy by atomic reactions, also known asnuclear reactions. Nuclear reactions involve changes in the nuclei of atoms. This makes them different from normal chemical reactions. The most common example of an atomic reaction is the hydrogen fusion reaction ...
Atoms have unique properties that are typically dictated by the amount of free electrons they have available. Atoms are able to bind to each other to form larger molecules called compounds. These are often formed in specific ratio of atoms....
When cosmic inflation came to a sudden and still mysterious end, the more classic descriptions of the Big Bang took hold. A flood of matter and radiation, known as "reheating," began populating our universe with the stuff we know today: particles, atoms, the stuff that would become stars ...
Despite decades of study, scientists still don't know exactly what dark matter is made of. They do know it's not made of ordinary atoms — the same kind of matter that makes up stars, planets, and people. That kind of matter is called "baryonic," and dark matter appears to be "non...
How do atoms make molecules and compounds? Atoms are a bit like people: they usually prefer company to being alone. A lot of atoms prefer to join up with other atoms because they're more stable that way. So hydrogen atoms don't exist by themselves: instead, they pair up to make what...
But because the atoms are now interacting, the energy levels shift around. In a solid, trillions and trillions of atoms interact with each other. Their individual energy levels smear into energy bands. For a material to conduct, the electrons must be able to jump from lower energy states to...
Parts of atoms not associated with a proton are not atoms. For example, an electron is not an atom. A neutron, even bonded to other neutrons, is not an atom. Technically, ions, molecules, and compounds are all atoms. Usually, however, when someone talks about an atom example they mean...