Chapter 3, Problem 20A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The three common types of particles found in atom, the charges and masses of these particles needs to be determined.

Concept introduction:

An atom is the smallest unit of element. The atom is consists of three common type of particles. The subatomic particles are neutrons, protons and electrons. The subatomic particles are charged except neutrons.

Answer to Problem 20A

The three common type of particles found in the atom are as-

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

The relative charges and masses of the particles are as-

Subatomic particles	Relative mass	Relative charge
Proton	$1$	$+1$
Electron	$0.005$	$-1$
Neutron	$1$	$0$

Explanation of Solution

An atom has protons, neutron and electron as the subatomic particle. The nucleus of an atom is consists by two main subatomic particles, protons and neutrons. The protons and electrons are electrically charged but neutrons are neutral. The charges and masses of the particles are given in the table −

Subatomic particles	Relative mass	Relative charge
Proton	$1$	$+1$
Electron	$0.005$	$-1$
Neutron	$1$	$0$

Conclusion

The atom is made up of three particles such as protons, neutrons, and elelctrons. The number of neutrons and electrons present in an atom and give the information about the specific elements, where the neutrons term is related to the neutral character of neutrons, and protons is related to the positive charge.