Fast Fact: Atoms and Molecules

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An atom is the basic unit that everything is made of. There are many different kinds of
atoms, with different names, sizes, and weights*.

Atoms are very tiny. The largest one would be about 200,000 times smaller than the
width of a human hair. Because they are so small, atoms can’t be seen without special
tools.

So far scientists know about 118 different kinds of atoms. These kinds of atoms are
called elements. You probably already know about some of them. For example, helium,
neon, and gold are each made up of one single kind of atom. These are elements.

Different
kinds of atoms, called “elements” are arranged in a table.
This is called the “Periodic Table of the Elements”.
(Source: OpenStax University Physics, via Wikimedia Commons.)

Molecules

Molecules are formed when atoms join together. For example, you might have heard
someone call water “H2O”. That’s because two hydrogen(H) atoms and one oxygen(O)
atom combine to make a water molecule.
 A water
molecule is formed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O).
(Source: Wikimedia Commons.)

A molecule is the smallest amount of something you can get without breaking it down
into something different. For example, if you took one water molecule and broke it
down, you wouldn’t have water anymore. You’d have hydrogen and oxygen.

What makes up an atom?

 Atoms
have protons and neutrons in the center. Electrons move around the outside.
The diagram shows the parts of a Lithium atom. The atom does not actually look like
this.
(Source: AG Caesar, from Wikimedia Commons.)

Every atom is made up of three kinds of smaller parts: protons (which are positively

charged), neutrons (which have no charge) and electrons (which are negatively
charged). Protons and neutrons are heavier, and stay in the middle of the atom. They are
called the nucleus. They are surrounded by a cloud of moving electrons which are very
light and are attracted to the positive charge of the nucleus.

Different atoms have different numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Counting
these will tell you what element an atom is. For example, a Lithium atom has 3 protons,
3 or 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons.

*Scientists usually prefer to say “mass” instead of “weight”.

Un atome est un minuscule morceau de matière, une sorte de « brique » qui la constitue.
Lorsque plusieurs atomes sont assemblés entre eux, ils peuvent former des molécules. Les
atomes sont partout dans l’environnement, ce sont eux qui constituent tout ce qui nous
entoure : l’air, l'eau, la terre, les matériaux...