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  1. Atom | Definition, Structure, History, Examples, Diagram, & Facts ...

    Jan 31, 2026 · Chemical elements are made up of only one type of atom—gold contains only gold atoms, and neon contains only neon atoms--and they are ranked in order of their atomic number (the …

  2. Atomic physics | Structure, Particles & Energy | Britannica

    It attempts to describe and account for the properties of molecules and atoms and their constituents— electrons, protons, neutrons, and other more esoteric particles such as quarks and gluons.

  3. Periodic table | Definition, Elements, Names, Symbols, Groups, Charges ...

    Feb 13, 2026 · The sizes of atoms are of importance in the determination of coordination number (that is, the number of groups attached to the central atom in a compound) and hence in the composition …

  4. Atom - Development, Theory, Structure | Britannica

    Jan 31, 2026 · Dalton had begun his atomic studies by wondering why the different gases in the atmosphere do not separate, with the heaviest on the bottom and the lightest on the top. He decided …

  5. Chemical bonding - Visualization, Atoms, Molecules | Britannica

    Jan 29, 2026 · The last opposition to the existence of atoms vanished in the early 20th century when techniques were developed that portrayed visual representations of atoms.

  6. Atomic model | Definition, History, Development, Examples, & Facts ...

    Jan 13, 2026 · Elements are characterized by the mass of their atoms. Dalton stated that all atoms of an element are identical in shape, size, and mass. When atoms are involved in chemical reactions, they …

  7. Chemical element - Atoms, Molecules, Compounds | Britannica

    Jan 9, 2026 · Chemical element - Atoms, Molecules, Compounds: Igneous rocks show a wide range of composition; the principal component, silica (SiO2), ranges from about 35 percent to 80 percent …

  8. atom - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help

    The tiny particles called atoms are the basic building blocks of all matter. Atoms can be combined with other atoms to form molecules, but they cannot be divided into smaller parts by ordinary means.

  9. Mole | Definition, Number, & Facts | Britannica

    Jan 19, 2026 · The number of atoms or other particles in a mole is the same for all substances. The mole is related to the mass of an element in the following way: one mole of carbon-12 atoms has …

  10. How Chemists Visualize & Study Atoms | Britannica

    The idea of atoms stretches back to ancient Greece when the philosopher Democritus declared that all matter is made of tiny particles. The philosopher Plato even decided, wrongly, that different …