Atomic Structure: Does an Atom Have Matter and Charge?

[Ankhen]

Simpel question: does an atom consists of matter and charge?
Yes/no?? If no Then what?

 

[Nugatory]

An a

Simpel question: does an atom consists of matter and charge?
Yes/no?? If no Then what?

An atom is made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons. These are generally considered to be subatomic particles, not matter. The electrons and protons have electrical charges.

 

[Ankhen]

An a

An atom is made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons. These are generally conside

An a

An atom is made up of electrons, protons, and neutrons. These are generally considered to be subatomic particles, not matter. The electrons and protons have electrical charges.

red to be subatomic particles, not matter. The electrons and protons have electrical charges.

That i already knew, but thanks:) but can you explane the Difference between subatomic particles and matter?

 

[Drakkith]

Electric charge is a fundamental property of certain elementary particles, including the electron. An atom is made up of 3 different particles, which Nugatory already listed. It is not "made of charge".

Matter is an ill-defined word. Usually we use it to mean anything made up of protons, neutrons, or electrons. However, other fundamental particles are called matter too. You can think of the word 'matter' as just a label to help us categorize things. For example, light, while having energy and obeying some of the same basic laws as electrons and protons, is NOT considered matter, primarily because it has no mass and always travels at c in a vacuum.

 

[Nugatory]

That i already knew, but thanks:) but can you explane the Difference between subatomic particles and matter?

There's no good answer to that question because, as Drakkith points out, the word "matter" is not especially clearly defined. Two of the more common definitions of "matter" are:
1) Stuff that's made up of atoms.
2) Anything that has mass.
According to #1, subatomic particles aren't matter, but matter is made out of them.
According to #2, subatomic particles are matter.

It's somewhat of a waste to time to debate which if either definition is "better".

 

[Ankhen]

There's no good answer to that question because, as Drakkith points out, the word "matter" is not especially clearly defined. Two of the more common definitions of "matter" are:
1) Stuff that's made up of atoms.
2) Anything that has mass.
According to #1, subatomic particles aren't matter, but matter is made out of them.
According to #2, subatomic particles are matter.

It's somewhat of a waste to time to debate which if either definition is "better".

So we can say that an atom consists of mass and charge?

 

[Drakkith]

So we can say that an atom consists of mass and charge?

No. Mass and charge are properties of objects, not objects themselves. An electron isn't made up of charge any more than an apple is made up of 'red' or ice is made up of 'smooth'.

 

[Nugatory]

So we can say that an atom consists of mass and charge?

You can say anything you want... But saying that an atom consists of mass and charge is like saying that a building made of heavy red bricks consists of redness and heaviness.

This thread can be closed here, I think.