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This lesson covers the structure of the atom and the sub-atomic particles within it, as required by AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (5.1.1). Understanding atomic structure is fundamental to chemistry — it explains why elements behave the way they do, how they bond, and why the periodic table is arranged the way it is.
An atom consists of a central nucleus surrounded by electrons that orbit in shells (energy levels). The nucleus is extremely small compared to the overall size of the atom.
| Part of the Atom | Description |
|---|---|
| Nucleus | Found at the centre of the atom. Contains protons and neutrons. Very small and dense. Positively charged overall. |
| Electron shells | Regions around the nucleus where electrons are found. Electrons orbit the nucleus at specific energy levels (shells). |
The radius of an atom is approximately 1 x 10^-10 m (0.1 nm). The radius of the nucleus is about 1 x 10^-14 m — roughly 10,000 times smaller than the atom itself. This means that most of an atom is empty space.
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