Difference between Elements and Atoms: Overview, Questions, Preparation

The smallest pieces of ordinary matter are atoms composed of particles called protons (carrying a positive electrical charge), neutrons (carrying no electrical charge), and electrons (which have a negative electrical charge). In the middle portion of the atom, called the nucleus, the protons and neutrons swarm together, and the electrons orbit the nucleus. The same number of protons and electrons would be found in a single atom, and most atoms contain at least as many neutrons as protons.

An element is a material completely formed from one form of an atom. The hydrogen part, for example, is made from atoms containing only one proton and one electron. You will find that most of the atoms have no neutrons, some of them have one neutron, and a couple of them have two neutrons if you have very sharp vision and could look at the atoms in a hydrogen sample. 

Atoms and elements are in great detail in the Class 10 syllabus. It's available in almost every chapter of science. These are called the basic building blocks. In chapters like the periodic table, you will get to know about it in detail.

As said earlier, Atoms and elements are among the most important topics for any person studying science. Class 11th also has a periodic chapter table where you can learn more detail about other aspects of atoms and elements.

In class 12, you have p-block, d-block, organic chemistry; every chapter has some study of this, including reaction, what kind of compounds are formed, and many other things.

1. Based on quantum numbers, explain that there should be 32 elements in the sixth period of the periodic table.

The sixth period corresponds to the sixth shell. 6s, 4f, 5p, and 6d are the orbitals found in this shell. 2 + 14 + 6 + 10 = 32 is the highest number of electrons found in these subshells.

2. Write the atomic number of the element and the seventeenth group of the periodic table present in the third period.

Chlorine (Cl) with an atomic number (Z) = 17 is an element.

3. Why do elements have identical physical and chemical properties in the same group?

The elements in a group are of the same electrical structure of the valence shell and thus have identical physical and chemical properties.

Q: In an element, how many atoms are there?

Q: What particle is the smallest?

Q: Who is bigger, atom or molecule?

Q: Is water a molecule or an atom?

Q: Can an atom be created?