1. A Model for the Electrical Nature of Matter

2. Matter
All matter is made up of submicroscopic particles called atoms.

3. Nucleus At the centre of each atom is a nucleus. Each nucleus has
A proton: positive charge
A neutron: no charge

4. Atom

5. This is not the proton you are looking for.
Protons
Protons do not move from a nucleus when an atom becomes charged!
This is not the proton you are looking for.

6. Electrons
A cloud of negatively charged electrons surround the nucleus.
An electron has the same amount of charge as a proton, but the charge is opposite.
Electrons move from atom to atom when atoms become charged!

7. Charges
Like charges repel each other; unlike charges attract each other.
In some elements electrons move easily from atom to atom. In other elements the electrons do not want to move much at all.

8. In a neutral atom the number of electrons equal the number of protons.
If an atom gains an electron, the net charge will be negative, it is called a negative ion.
If an atom loses an electron, the net charge will be positive, it is called a positive ion.