Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
or with email
Your Cart
SubtotalтВ╣0
TotalтВ╣0
Examoogle тАв User тАв info@examoogle.com тАв EE-2024-8821
Chapter 1 of 12 тАв Page 1 of 248ЁЯФТ Protected PDF тАв Watermarked
Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
The smallest particle of an element that retains its properties is called a/an:
compound
proton
atom
electron
atom
The atom is the fundamental, smallest unit of an element that retains all the chemical properties of that specific element. It consists of a dense central nucleus (protons and neutrons) surrounded by electrons.
The atom is the fundamental, smallest unit of an element that retains all the chemical properties of that specific element. It consists of a dense central nucleus (protons and neutrons) surrounded by electrons.
Think of a 'LEGO' brick of a specific color: the individual brick is the smallest piece that still represents that specific color and type. If you snap the brick into smaller plastic pieces, it is no longer a recognizable LEGO brick.
Z=p+ тАФ The atomic number (Z) is equal to the number of protons (p+) in the nucleus.
An element is defined by its atomic number, which is the count of protons in its nucleus. Since the chemical behavior of an element is governed by its electron configuration, the atom maintains its unique identity and properties as long as the nucleus remains unchanged. If you break an atom down into subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, or electrons), it no longer exhibits the characteristic chemical properties of that element.
Atoms are the building blocks of all matter.
The identity of an element is strictly determined by the number of protons in its nucleus.
Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the primary subatomic particles, but they do not possess the identity of the element individually.
A molecule is the smallest unit of a compound.
Used to define the periodic table based on atomic number.
Fundamental basis for understanding chemical bonding and reactions.
The term 'atom' comes from the Greek word 'atomos', meaning indivisible, though we now know they consist of subatomic particles.
Option A (compound) is incorrect because a compound consists of two or more types of atoms chemically bonded.
Option B (proton) and D (electron) are incorrect because they are subatomic particles and do not represent the identity of an element by themselves.
C is correct тАФ An atom is the smallest particle of an element that retains all its characteristic chemical properties.
Always distinguish between 'element' (atom) and 'compound' (molecule/formula unit) when asked about the smallest particle.
Get instant step-by-step AI explanations, full shift Previous Year Papers (SSC GD, RRB, SSC JE), and regional rank analysis on the official Examoogle App.
Free Download тАв 100K+ Aspirants