atome

Atome is the French term for atom, the fundamental unit of matter in physics and chemistry. An atom consists of a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, around which electrons are arranged in an electron cloud or orbitals. The nucleus accounts for most of the atom’s mass, while the electrons determine its interactions with other atoms. The atomic number, the number of protons in the nucleus, defines the identity of an element. Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

The electrons occupy discrete energy levels, and their arrangement—electron configuration—governs chemical properties and behavior in reactions. Atoms bond with other atoms to form molecules, giving rise to the vast diversity of materials found in nature and technology. The concept of the atom has evolved from early philosophical ideas to a scientific framework developed through experiments such as Dalton’s atomic theory, Thomson’s discovery of the electron, Rutherford’s gold foil experiment revealing a dense nucleus, Bohr’s quantized orbits, and the quantum mechanical model of the atom.

In addition to the scientific term, Atome is used as a proper noun in various languages and regions for brand names, projects, or organizations, often invoking the idea of a fundamental building block. The spelling with an 'e' is common in French-language contexts, while the English term is spelled atom.