Atoms and Ions - The Building Blocks of Everything
Think of atoms as incredibly tiny Lego blocks that build absolutely everything in the universe. Each atom has a specific structure that's surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it.
At the heart of every atom sits the nucleus, which contains two types of particles. Protons carry a positive charge (+1) and have a relative mass of 1, whilst neutrons are completely neutral with no charge but the same mass as protons. These particles stick together in the nucleus like best mates.
Electrons are the rebels of the atom world - they zip around the outside in what we call electron shells. They're practically weightless (relative mass of 0) and carry a negative charge (-1). The brilliant thing is that in a normal atom, the number of protons always equals the number of electrons, keeping everything perfectly balanced.
Here's where it gets interesting: atoms can actually gain or lose electrons to become ions. Gain an electron? You've got a negative ion. Lose one? Positive ion. It's like atoms changing their electrical personality!
Quick Tip: Remember that protons and neutrons are the heavy hitters with mass 1, whilst electrons are the lightweights with virtually no mass.
The periodic table is your cheat sheet for understanding any element. Take oxygen as an example: the atomic number (8) tells you the number of protons, which also equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom. The mass number (16) is the total of protons plus neutrons. To find neutrons, simply subtract: mass number - atomic number = number of neutrons.