Question

) A student builds a model of an atom with a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons and electrons orbiting the nucleus. Which of the following changes would most accurately represent an atom of a different element?
(10 Points)


Increasing the number of electrons while keeping the number of protons the same

Increasing the number of protons in the nucleus

Decreasing the number of neutrons while keeping the number of protons and electrons the same

Moving electrons closer to the nucleus without changing the number of protons

Answer 1

To accurately represent an atom of a different element, the most appropriate change is:

**Increasing the number of protons in the nucleus.**

Here's why:

- **Increasing the number of protons** changes the atomic number, which defines the element. Each element is characterized by a unique number of protons, so this change would create a new element.

The other options do not adequately represent a different element:

1. **Increasing the number of electrons while keeping the number of protons the same** would create an ion of the same element rather than a new element.

2. **Decreasing the number of neutrons while keeping the number of protons and electrons the same** would produce an isotope of the same element, not a different element.

3. **Moving electrons closer to the nucleus without changing the number of protons** affects the atom's energy states but does not change the element itself.

Therefore, increasing the number of protons is the correct choice for representing a different element.