Question

PS1.1) 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 relevant change is:

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

This is because the identity of an element is determined by the number of protons in its nucleus (its atomic number). Increasing the number of protons will result in a different element altogether.

The other options do not fundamentally change the identity of the element:
- Increasing the number of electrons results in an ion of the same element and does not change it to a different element.
- Decreasing the number of neutrons while keeping protons and electrons the same changes the isotope of the element but not the element itself.
- Moving electrons closer to the nucleus does not affect the atomic identity at all; it merely affects their energy states or configurations.

Thus, the correct answer is **increasing the number of protons in the nucleus.**