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How are atoms and elements related? An atom is the basic unit of life, and an element is one type of atom, or a group of the same type of atoms. All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons. Atoms of different elements differ in the number of protons.
Are atoms and elements the same thing?
An atom is the part of an element. A particular element is composed of only one type of atom. Atoms are further composed of subatomic particles called electrons, protons and neutrons. Elements can combine with each other to form molecules via chemical reaction.
Are both atoms and elements matter?
An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains all of the chemical properties of an element. The attraction between the positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons holds the atom together. Most atoms contain all three of these types of subatomic particles—protons, electrons, and neutrons.
How are elements and atoms of different elements similar to and different from one another?
Normally, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, which makes atoms electrically neutral. The number of protons in an atom is the defining feature of an atom. It’s what makes one element different from another. The number of protons in an atom is called its atomic number.
Are atoms of the same element exactly alike?
No. Two atoms of the same chemical element are typically not identical. Since the states of the electrons in an atom are what determine the nature of the chemical bonding that the atom experiences, two atoms of the same element can react differently if they are in different states.
What similarities do atoms of the same element share?
All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons, but some may have different numbers of neutrons. For example, all carbon atoms have six protons, and most have six neutrons as well.