Multiple Choice
In which part of the Earth is phosphorus primarily found?
2. Atoms & Elements
The Atom
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What is the smallest particle of an element that still retains all the properties of the element?
A
Molecule
B
Proton
C
Electron
D
Atom
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that elements are pure substances that consist of only one type of atom. Each element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus, which is its atomic number.
Recognize that an atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains all the chemical properties of that element. Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.
Differentiate between atoms and molecules. Molecules are composed of two or more atoms bonded together, and they can be of the same or different elements. Therefore, a molecule is not the smallest particle of an element.
Consider the subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. While these are components of atoms, they do not retain the chemical properties of the element by themselves.
Conclude that the atom is the smallest particle of an element that retains all the properties of the element, as it includes the complete set of protons, neutrons, and electrons that define the element's chemical behavior.
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