Significance: Elemental Flow

The atom is arguably the most important particle in the study of science, as it makes up every substance, seen and unseen, in the universe. It is made of several, smaller particles, including protons, neutrons and electrons. Although protons and neutrons, which are made of smaller, even more fundamental particles, are interesting parts of the atom to study, the Elemental Flow arc takes a look at the negatively-charged electron.

Without electrons, no substance would exist as we know it today, including those substances that make up our bodies. The primary function of electrons is to give the atom a type of currency that can be used to control its energy. This makes electrons important for stability of the atom and, by extension, the stability of every substance in the universe.

To be as stable as possible, atoms seek to complete their outermost electron shell, which is the region farthest outside of the atom’s core. Although the Periodic Table of Elements informs you of exactly how many electrons are needed to complete a shell, there is science - complex science - behind its organization. This complex science is called quantum mechanics, which explains why electrons interact with each other in the way that they do.

Quantum mechanics shows an important part of the study of science that will stick with us throughout the journey through the following arcs: there are many things we know, but there are many more things that we do not know.

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Start the Elemental Flow arc or see a summary of the arc.

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