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8th grade Protons, neutrons and electrons worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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Protons, neutrons and electrons

Grade 8 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

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  1. A sodium atom has atomic number 11 and mass number 23. Neutrons = mass number − atomic number. How many neutrons does it have, Ari?

  2. A fluorine atom has atomic number 9 and mass number 19. Neutrons = mass number − atomic number. How many neutrons does it have, Esme?

  3. Jun fills in a particle table. Which particle has a negative charge?

    • The electron
    • The proton
    • The neutron
  4. Where in an atom are the protons, Kira?

    • Spread through the whole atom
    • In the nucleus
    • Circling outside the nucleus
  5. Luz asks which particle in an atom has no charge. Which one?

    • The proton
    • No such particle; each has a charge
    • The neutron
  6. Milo labels a drawing of a helium atom. Which letter marks an electron?

    • Letter C
    • Letter B
    • Letter A, since electrons sit in the nucleus
  7. In the same helium drawing, what is particle B, Noah?

    Use the picture in question 6.

    • A neutron
    • A proton
    • An electron inside the nucleus
  8. “Particle drawing of an atom of lithium, not to scale:” Pia studies a lithium atom drawing. Where are its electrons?

    • At P, stuck to the neutrons
    • At Q, around the nucleus
    • At P, mixed in with the protons
  9. A neutral carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. How many electrons does it have, Ren?

    • 12 electrons, the mass number
    • 6 electrons
    • 0 electrons, since they are tiny
  10. A neutral sodium atom has atomic number 11 and mass number 23. How many electrons, Zee?

    • 23 electrons
    • 12 electrons
    • 11 electrons
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8th grade Protons, neutrons and electrons worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Protons, neutrons and electrons. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can give each particle's charge and place: proton +1 and neutron 0 in the nucleus, electron −1 around it.
  • I can use atomic number = protons, mass number = protons + neutrons, and electrons = protons in a neutral atom.
  • I can say that the protons decide the element and that almost all of the mass is in the nucleus.

Standard: MS-PS1-1

Words to know

proton: A positive particle in the nucleus

neutron: A particle with no charge in the nucleus

electron: A very light negative particle around the nucleus

nucleus: The tiny center of an atom

atomic number: The number of protons; it names the element

mass number: Protons plus neutrons

neutral: Equal positive and negative charges

Common mistakes

Your child added the two numbers instead of subtracting. Remind: the mass number counts protons and neutrons together, so take one away to find the other.

Your child gave the neutron a charge. Say the three together: proton plus, electron minus, neutron neutral (no charge).

Your child put electrons in the nucleus. Draw an atom together: protons and neutrons in the center, electrons around the outside.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with protons, neutrons and electrons?

Your child added the two numbers instead of subtracting. Remind: the mass number counts protons and neutrons together, so take one away to find the other.

Are these 8th grade science worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 8 science

See all grade 8 science

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