Fill in the blanks using the word bank (atom, atomic number, electrons, neutrons, protons) about atomic structure and the Periodic Table: The smallest part of an element that still has the properties of the element is an (4) ____. There are negatively charged (5) ____ in a cloud around the atom. The nucleus contains positively charged (6) ____ and (7) ____ with no charge. Elements are identified by the number of protons, or the (8) ____ of the element.

What you are matching in each blank

Each blank is a clue about either (1) what an element is made of, (2) the charges of subatomic particles, or (3) the property that identifies an element on the Periodic Table.

Blank (4): the smallest part of an element

The smallest part of an element that still keeps the element’s properties is an atom.

So (4) = atom.

Blanks (5), (6), (7): particles and their charges

• Negatively charged particles in a cloud around the atom are electrons.
• Positively charged particles in the nucleus are protons.
• Particles in the nucleus with no charge are neutrons.

So:

• (5) = electrons
• (6) = protons
• (7) = neutrons

Blank (8): how elements are identified

An element is defined by its number of protons. The number of protons is called the atomic number.

So (8) = atomic number.

Quick check

If you read the paragraph with the filled words, the charges and locations all line up with standard atomic structure: electrons (negative) outside, protons (positive) and neutrons (neutral) in the nucleus, and atomic number equals protons.