Atomic Structure – Exploring the Internal Composition of the Atom
For many Singapore students, Atomic Structure is the first chapter in chemistry that feels seriously abstract . You can’t see an atom, you can’t touch it, yet you’re expected to understand what’s happening inside it and then apply that understanding to equations, periodic trends, and exam questions. It’s no surprise that this chapter often creates confusion right from the start. Let’s slow things down and explore Atomic Structure from the inside , step by step, in a way that actually makes sense. What Is an Atom, Really? An atom is the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element. Everything around us, air, water, metals, even our bodies are made up of atoms. Instead of thinking of an atom as a complicated diagram from a textbook, imagine it as a tiny system with order and balance. At the centre of the atom is the nucleus , which contains: Protons (positively charged) Neutrons (no charge) Moving around the nucleus are electrons , which carry a nega...