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Explain the atom's structure, which consists of a central nucleus made up of neutrons and protons, with electrons arranged in shells around it.

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Cambridge IGCSE Combined ScienceAtoms, elements and compoundsCore content

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Explain the atom's structure, which consists of a central nucleus made up of neutrons and protons, with electrons arranged in shells around it

This point belongs to Atomic structure and the Periodic Table, especially Atomic structure and the Periodic Table outcomes.
You need to be able to explain the atom's structure, which consists of a central nucleus made up of neutrons and protons, with electrons arranged in shells around it.
The key ideas to know are Describe.
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Describe

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Paper 3 structured question: Atomic structure and the Periodic Table

Paper 3Theory (Core)3 marks

Description

Structure of an Atom

An atom consists of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons, while electrons are arranged in shells around the nucleus.

a
Describe the structure of an atom.
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[3]

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Related learning objectives

Identify the relative charges and masses of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table outcomes
Clarify that the proton number, also known as atomic number, refers to the number of protons found in an atom's nucleus.
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table outcomes
Clarify that the mass number, or nucleon number, is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table outcomes
Identify the electronic configuration for elements with atomic numbers ranging from 1 to 20, such as 2,8,3.
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table outcomes
Recognize that: (a) noble gases in Group VIII have a complete outer shell, (b) the number of outer-shell electrons corresponds to the group number for Groups I to VII, and (c) the number of occupied electron shells matches the period number.
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table outcomes

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