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
(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
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To accurately represent an atom of a different element, the correct change would be:
**Increasing the number of protons in the nucleus.**
Increasing the number of protons changes the element itself since the identity of an element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus (its atomic number). The other options would either affect the charge of the atom or change the isotope but would not result in a different element.
**Increasing the number of protons in the nucleus.**
Increasing the number of protons changes the element itself since the identity of an element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus (its atomic number). The other options would either affect the charge of the atom or change the isotope but would not result in a different element.