Physics GCSE
neutral atoms
What neutral atoms means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of neutral atoms
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Reference: AQA
Atoms that have as many electrons as protons, so the atomic number also gives the electron count, although not for an ion.
Ordinary atoms carry no overall charge, so something positive must also be present to cancel the electrons.
Atoms that hold exactly as many electrons as protons, so the charges cancel.
Topics that use neutral atoms
- Mass number, atomic number and isotopes (AQA GCSE)
- The development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry) (AQA GCSE)
- The structure of an atom (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- empty space
- energy levels
- isotopes
- outer electrons
- absorption and emission
- agreement with observations
- alpha particle scattering
- atomic number
Using neutral atoms in the exam
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