Basic Concepts of Atomic Structure

The structure of an atom is fundamental to understand chemistry. According to the Class 11 NCERT syllabus, an atom consists of three main subatomic particles:

• Protons: Positively charged particles found in the nucleus.
• Neutrons: Neutral particles that also reside in the nucleus.
• Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in various energy levels or shells.

The nucleus is the central part of the atom and contains protons and neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number and defines the element. Electrons revolve around the nucleus in fixed paths called orbitals. The distribution of electrons in different orbitals follows the Bohr Model and the quantum mechanical model.