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Basic structure of materials
1.1 Atoms and molecules
All matter is made up of atoms. A material that is made up of just one type of
atom is called an
element.
Hydrogen, carbon, copper and iron are examples of
elements. An atom is the smallest particle of an element that has the
characteristics of that element. We can thus talk of a copper atom or an iron
atom. Atoms themselves are made up of other particles which are not
characteristics of the element but are basic building blocks out of which all
atoms are constructed. Each atom is composed of a nucleus, which is positively
charged, and electrons, which are negatively charged. We can thin ...