This video answers questions like "What is an Atom?", "What is an Atom made of?", and "What do Atoms do?". We explore protons, electrons and neutrons and give a brief overview of the periodic table of elements. 

The tiny particles called atoms are the basic building blocks of all matter. Atoms can be combined with other atoms to form molecules, but they cannot be divided into smaller parts by ordinary means.

The word atom comes from the Greek word atomos, meaning “indivisible.” The ancient Greeks were the first to think of the atom as the basic unit of all matter. It was not until the early 1800s, though, that scientists began to understand how atoms work.

Each individual atom is made up of smaller particles—electrons, protons, and neutrons. These are called subatomic particles. At the center of an atom is a nucleus. The nucleus consists of protons and neutrons. Protons carry a positive electrical charge, while neutrons carry no electrical charge. Together, protons and neutrons are called nucleons. Surrounding the nucleus is a cloud of negatively charged electrons. 

Scientists believe that subatomic particles—protons, neutrons, and electrons—are themselves made up of smaller substances. The substances are called quarks and leptons.