congratulation ben4thos-ga
Your's is the right aproach to study of science -
critical thinking and asking questions.
First part of your question: model of the atom = nucleus + electrons
When you knock off few electrons of an atom,
let's say carbon, you get a positive ion of carbon.
You would need to change the nucleus to get the another element
Search term: transmutation of elements
e.g.
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry?id=47769
Definition of element:
The number of protons in the atoms of an element is known as the
atomic number of the element. For example, all atoms with 6 protons in
their nuclei are atoms of the chemical element carbon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element
It is true, that chemical properties are determined by number of electrons,
but 'equilibrium number of electrons' for a given atom is determined by the
charge of the nucleus - which is much more difficult to disturb then outer
electrons.
It is fairly easy to remove electron(s) from atom, as seen here
Search term : Ionization potentials
http://www.chemistrycoach.com/ionization_potentials_f.htm
Often an absorption of a single photon does that (photoeffect).
And so, toms spend part of their life having more, or less, electrons
then their equilibrium (neutral) state requires.
Does that also answers the first part of your question?
Hedgie
PS: if your textbook does not explain this, I would suggest you look for some
suplementary reading, such as
http://homepage.mac.com/jhjenkins/Asimov/Books/Book073.html |
