ChemistryGeneral Chemistry

The Anatomy of Atoms: Mastering Biology Answers

Protons are p with +1 charge, neutrons are n with 0 charge, and electrons are e with −1 charge. Protons and neutrons are about 1 amu each, while an electron fits the exercise's roughly 1/2000 amu bin.

Question

The Anatomy of AtomsAll matter is made of atoms. Each atom has a nucleus containing positively charged protons and uncharged neutrons; negatively charged electrons occupy the space outside the nucleus.Part AMatch each property to proton, neutron, or electron: symbol p, symbol n, symbol e, +1 charge, 0 charge, and −1 charge.Part BSort proton, neutron, and electron into two mass bins: approximately 1 amu and approximately 1/2000 amu.

Part A — Match each subatomic particle

ParticleSymbolCharge
Protonpp+1+1
Neutronnn00
Electronee1-1

So place symbol p and +1 charge in the proton bin; symbol n and 0 charge in the neutron bin; and symbol e and −1 charge in the electron bin.

Part B — Sort by approximate mass

Mass of about 1 amu

  • proton
  • neutron

Mass of about 1/2000 amu

  • electron

Protons and neutrons account for nearly all atomic mass. An electron is much lighter. Reference tables often give roughly 1/1800 amu; the exercise's 1/2000 bin is the intended rounded comparison.

Quick check

The particle names align with their charges: a proton is positive, a neutron is neutral, and an electron is negative. The two nuclear particles are the heavy pair, while the electron is the light outlier.

Evidence boundary

This page covers only Parts A and B of the tutorial titled 'The Anatomy of Atoms.' It does not include the separate 'Chemistry Review: Atoms & Molecules — Atomic Structure' questions that follow in the same assignment. Masses are sorted using the approximate bins supplied by the tutorial.

Sources

These references support the concepts and methods used in the explanation above.

The Anatomy of Atoms Mastering Biology Answers | Verla