Questions and Answers
Questions are an important part of the scientific process and, over the years, hundreds of people have sent their questions to us. Listed below are some of the most common, and most interesting, questions visitors to our site have asked. A special thanks to all of the staff members who have taken the time to help answer these questions. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!
Atoms, Elements and Molecules
Since Jefferson Lab is a nuclear physics research facility, it isn't surprising that we're often asked questions about atoms. We've selected the most common questions from the main archive and have listed them here for your convenience.
Basic Information
What is an atom? What are atoms made of?
What is an element? How many elements are there?
What is the difference between atoms and elements?
Atomic Structure
How do I find the number of protons, electrons and neutrons that are in an atom of an element?
How many electrons fit in each shell around an atom?
How do I read an electron configuration table?
How do I make a model of an atom?
What does the element krypton look like?
History
Who discovered the element gold, silver, copper, neon, etc...?
Complete Question Archive
Atoms and Matter
What is an atom? What are atoms made of?
How do I make a model of an atom?
What is one example of indirect evidence that scientists use to study an atom?
What is an element? How many elements are there?
What is the difference between atoms and elements?
What is the simplest way of explaining what atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures are?
What is the difference between a compound and a molecule?
What is the biggest atom? The smallest atom?
What are the components of an atom? How much does each atom weigh?
Is there an atom that does not have neutrons?
What kind of charge does a proton have? And what kind of charge does a neutron have?
Why do protons and neutrons stay together in the nucleus?
How many times bigger is a proton than an electron?
Why are electrons so far away from the nucleus of an atom?
How many electrons fit in each shell around an atom?
How are electrons placed in shells around the nucleus?
What keeps the electrons revolving around the nucleus of an atom?
How much of an atom is empty space?
If atoms are made up mostly of "empty space," what is in that empty space?
If atoms are 99.999999999999% empty space then why don't things pass right through them?
What do we use to measure mass?
If everything around us is matter, what about germs?
How do you prove air is matter?
Why is matter not being created at the present time, nor being destroyed?
Why don't atoms weigh anything?
What are the exact relative masses of protons, neutrons and electrons?
How do you know plasma is real if you can't see it?
What is the smallest particle of matter known?
Could there be anything smaller inside of an electron or inside of a neutron or a proton?
How many quarks are in a proton? How many quarks are in a neutron?
Are quarks confineable for study?
Elements and the Periodic Table
Why is hydrogen's atomic number 1?
Will scientists ever find smaller elements or is hydrogen the smallest possible?
When studying elements I noticed that there is a boiling point and melting point. What are they?
What are the freezing and melting points of krypton?
What does the element krypton look like?
Why aren't Chlorine-35 and Chlorine-37 two different elements?
What makes hassium an element if it has no uses except basic scientific research?
If you have 11 protons and 12 neutrons this is an atom of what element?
What's the difference between hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, copper, gold and magnesium?
Does sodium have any isotopes? Is it radioactive?
What atoms make up sugar? After sugar is melted over heat, what is the black substance called?
Is carbon found in all organic and inorganic matter?
In the chemical equation for methane gas why is there more hydrogen than carbon?
How do you separate tungsten from its ore?
What would you get if you combined one atom each from all the elements in the periodic table?
Electricity and Magnetism
What type of charge is produced when an electric field separates positive and negative charges?
How do you explain electrical resistance?
Do you know what an electromagnet is?
History of Science
Scientific Math
Is there a way to tell how many atoms are in a certain object?
How many atoms are in the human head?
How many atoms are in the human body?
Radiation and Radioactivity
How is radioactivity measured - in quantity?
How does the radioactivity of an atom affect the body?
What are alpha rays? How are they produced?
Is it possible for an element to emit more than one kind of radiation?
Energy
Lasers and Light
Jefferson Lab
What's used to steer Jefferson Lab's electron beam?
How much money does it cost a year to run Jefferson Lab? Do you get funds from an entrepreneurship?
Scientific Instruments and Experimentation
What is an accelerator operator?
What process do you go through before you start the experiments? Do you use a hypothesis?
Miscellaneous Questions
Citation and linking information
For questions about this page, please contact Steve Gagnon.