Since anything that takes up space and has a mass qualifies as matter, the term can apply to any object, no matter how large. Atoms, on the other hand, are small. So small, in fact, that they are the smallest possible particle of any type of matter.
This animation provides more basic information about the atom, and also introduces a type of matter called elements. Before you watch the animation you may want to review the terms on Page 2. In addition to “matter,” “element” and “atom,” the terms “molecule” and “particle” will be coming into play,
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Matter is made up of atoms, but not all atoms are the same. There are atoms with more stuff inside (ex. Cs), and atoms with less stuff inside (H). All in all, there are 118 different types of atoms, determined by the arrangement and amount of the stuff inside.
And all matter is made up of combinations of these atoms--but there is a special kind of matter called elements that are substances made entirely of one type of atom-- so as you might imagine: 118 types of atoms mean there are 118 different elements. Gold, for example, is an element. If you break apart a piece of gold down to its smallest particles, you end of up with gold atoms- and only gold atoms.
And here is where it gets a tad tricky-- the term element refers to a substance made up of one type of atom (ie. Gold), and it refers to a single atom of that element. So no matter how many gold atoms are contained in that chunk of gold-- 1 billion or just one, it is considered an element (gold) because it can’t be broken down to anything simpler.
And when atoms of one element connect with atoms of another element to form molecules, the true chemistry begins, and VOILA! the zillions of different types of living and nonliving things that we define as matter.
In the box below, write one sentence defining atoms, and one sentence defining elements. Then write one sentence in which you describe the relationship between elements and atoms.