Question

An atom is the smallest unit of matter:
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: It is just like the youngest member of your family. Think about it.

Complete step by step answer:
• An Atom is the smallest unit of matter (Anything that has mass and occupies some space).every state (solid, liquid, gas, and plasma) is composed of neutral or ionised atoms.
• Every atom is composed of a nucleus and that nucleus consists of charge particle protons and neutral particles neutrons. Atoms are extremely small, typically around 100 picometers.
• Protons and neutrons in the nucleus are collectively called nucleons.
• Democritus was the first who introduced the concept of atom but the first accurate and precise theory which gives us the proper explanation of an atom is ‘Dalton’s atomic theory’.
• Atoms are indivisible and indestructible.
• Atoms are the smallest entity which takes part in a chemical reaction.
• The atoms of a given element are different from those of any other element. Atoms of one element can combine with atoms of other elements to form a compound.
• atoms are not created or destroyed in a chemical reaction

Therefore, option (A) is correct.

Additional information:
Atom is derived from Greek word ‘ATMOS’ which was first given by Democritus. Meaning of Atmos is individual.

Note: As time passes, many theories were given but no one was accurate because now there are many experimental proofs that particles like proton, electron, meson, neutron, positron, neutrino, etc. are embedded in an atom. Also remember that hydrogen is the only element which has no neutrons.