8th Grade Science began understanding the parts of an atom. The subatomic particles of an atom include the proton (positive charge) neutron (neutral charge) and electron (negative charge). Protons and Neutrons combine to make Nucleons, and make up the Nucleus. Electrons stay out of the Nucleus and keep an atom balanced. The number of protons an atom has, helps to define the atom as an element. This is also known as their atomic number. In a balanced/ neutral atom, the number of protons, neutrons and electrons will all be the same. If an atom loses electrons it becomes a cation and becomes positively charges, if an atom gains electrons it is a negatively charged anion. The atomic mass is the total of protons and neutrons. It is the average of isotopes of the element. Valence electrons are located in the outmost energy level and determine how reactive an element is with other elements. 8th grade is also know learning how to structure atoms, and realizes that each energy level can accept a certain amount of atoms. The 1st energy level accepts 2, the 2nd accepts 8, and the 3rd accepts 16.
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