Atom simulator

1. What happens when you add a proton?
When you add a proton to anempty atom,you get hydrogen. When a proton is added to an atom the atom usualy becomes stable.

2. What does it mean when an atom is stable?

3. What does it mean when an atom is unstable?
A stable atom is one that is able to hold the nucleus together, the neutrons, protons, and electrons. Unstable atoms are always radioactive. They are unable to hold all of the “parts” together, and therefore the atom becomes radioactive. Radioactive materials are made up of unstable atoms, that don’t have enough “binding energy” to hold themselves together.

4. How do you make an atom stable?

5. What do you need to do?

To make an atom stable, you need to add or take away some amount of protons, depending on the amount of neutrons that the atom has. The easiest way to stabilize an atom is to have the same amount of neutrons and protons in it, but sometimes elements like Helium, that belong with the Nobel gases, has only one neutron and two protons, the element will stay atoms will be stable.

6. What is the valence electron pattern as you move across the periodic table?

The valance electrons are, electrons that are put in the outer shell of an atom. These electrons can become a “part” of another atom, or can be share with the other atom. When valent electrons "connect" with atoms compunds are created. The valence electron pattern in the periodic table is very easy to see. When you go across a period, the number of valence electrons increases. When you start a new period,, the number of valence electrons decreases, and usually loses 1. Then, the number starts increasing again.

7. What happens to the atom when there is more protons, more neutrons, or more electrons?
The atom becomes unstable, but like in the case of helium, there are some exceptions!

8. What's the difference between a positive and a negative ion?

Ions are formed when an element, or an atom, it either loses or gains an electron. An ion becomes positively charged, when it loses an electron, because in then the number of protons gets bigger than the number of electrons. An ion is negatively charged if the opposite thing happens; an atom gains an electron. In then, there are more electrons then protons.