What is the Atom?

Question

And how did someone split it?

Answer 1

he's some jerk in my biology class always talking about stuff off topic and gets rude with people

Answer 2

An atom is the smallest possible piece of an element. It has a nucleus made up of protons and neutrons. Each proton has a positive charge that we call +1 (it is the smallest electrical charge that can freely exist in nature).

A neutron is... neutral. When it is put in contact with protons, both are held together by "gluons". The presence of neutrons keeps the nucleus together; otherwise the nucleus would fly apart as charges of same sign repel each other.

The electron is a very small particle (almost 2000 times lighter than the proton), with a negative charge (-1) and in orbit around the nucleus.

The chemical properties of an element are determined by the number of protons in its nucleus (i.e., its total charge) and the behaviour of the atom is determined by the number of electrons. An atom with the same number of electron as the number of protons is said to be neutral. If there is a difference, the atom is said to be ionised (or ionized, depending on the dictionary you use). An ionised atom is also called an ion.

The ion is positive if one or more electron is missing. It is negative if it has an excess of electrons.

An atom with a large number of protons in its nucleus is less stable than one with a small number of protons. Uranium, with 92 protons, is so unstable that even adding neutrons never makes it completely stable.

The most stable atom of Uranium has 92 protons and 146 neutrons. 92+146 = 238 hence it is called Uranium-238.

There are other 'isotopes' of Uranium, including one with 143 neutrons (Uranium-235), less stable than Uranium-238. If the nucleus of an atom of U-235 is hit by a neutron, it can break apart: it splits in two smaller atoms (and it also throws out a couple of neutrons).

Also, U-235 may have a tendency to split on its own, without anyone shooting neutrons at it. Therefore, atoms have been splitting before anyone even knew they could. In fact, they've been splitting even before there were anyone.

The neutron thrown out by an atom of U-235 is too fast to split other atoms. One needs to slow it down. This can be done with various molecules (called 'moderators', for example, heavy water or graphite).

In 1932, Sir John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton were first to "split the atom" (cause a nuclear reaction) by using artificially accelerated particles. See wiki

Answer 3

An atom is the smallest unit for elements.

Its a demarcation point for physics. Once you go subatomic the world of physics is far different.

It was "first" split by taking slightly unstable radioactive isotopes and by compressing a large enough amount of the unstable isotopes,the freed netrons shoot out hitting other nuclei causes a chain reaction.

This is not a light subject.

Answer 4

an atom is the smallest unit of elements on earth, it consist of neutron, protons, which r in the nucleus, and electrons which rotate in orbits...
protons r positively charged
electrons r negatively charged
neutron r neutral..
so is the atom.. unless it's an anion or la cation
spliting it needs alot of energy, and that is the ATOMIC BOMB...

Answer 5

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