• Question: hello, do youknow how an atom is formed?

    Asked by chichimindless10 to Mike, Tim, Tom on 5 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      An atom is formed from electrons, protons and neutrons. These sub-atomic particles are arranged with the (positively charged) protons and (neutral) neutrons in the centre of the atom and the (negatively charged) electrons orbiting around the outside.
      Different materials are formed with nucleus’ with different numbers of protons and neutrons (and different numbers of electrons round the outside).

    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      it is thought that hydrogen atoms were formed during the big bang. Bigger atoms are formed when smaller atoms are smashed together in a star (nucelar fusion) – giving us the most of the rest of the periodic table.

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