GCSE Chemistry Atoms Revision Notes

• 1Atoms are made up of three main particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
• 2Protons have a positive charge, neutrons are neutral, and electrons have a negative charge.
• 3The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and identity.
• 4Atoms can bond together to form molecules through chemical bonds.
• 5The arrangement of electrons in an atom determines its chemical properties.

An atom is like a tiny building block that makes up everything we see around us. It has a center called the nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, while electrons orbit around the nucleus. The number of protons in the nucleus tells us what type of atom it is, like hydrogen or oxygen. Atoms can join together to form molecules, which are groups of atoms bonded together.