Which are characteristics of an atom? (Choose all that apply.)

They can only be seen by an electron microscope.

They are the smallest unit of matter

They are made of subatomic particles.

They come from compounds.

1 answer

The characteristics of an atom among the options provided are:

  1. They are the smallest unit of matter - Atoms are indeed considered the basic building blocks of matter.

  2. They are made of subatomic particles - Atoms are composed of subatomic particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.

The other two options are not correct:

  • They can only be seen by an electron microscope - While electron microscopes can be used to image atoms, they cannot be seen by traditional optical microscopes due to their small size, they can also be conceptualized and understood without the direct observation.

  • They come from compounds - This is incorrect; atoms are the fundamental units that make up compounds, not the other way around.

So the correct answers are:

  • They are the smallest unit of matter
  • They are made of subatomic particles.