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Atoms

Author: Nathan Lampson

 

Atoms are basic particles from which all elements are made. Different types of atoms have different properties and are called elements.

Atoms are made up of even smaller particles.  Protons are a positively charged particle found in the center of an atom. Negatively charged particles that form a cloud around the center of an atom are called electrons.  Neutrons are particles found in the center of an atom that have no charge.

When atoms have an electric charge, they are known as ions.  Ions that lose an electron (-) become a positive ion.  Atoms that lose a proton (+) become a negative ion.  A reason ions are known as electrolytes is because they allow substances to conduct electricity.

Atoms