What are atoms ?

Question

What are atoms ?

Answer 1

atoms are the smallest portion of matter, which retain all the physical properties of that matter.

for example- gold has a color, density, melting point, electrical conductivity... these are all physical properties.  if you get a piece of gold, and cut it in half about 60 times, each time cutting your half in half, you get to the atom.  the atom still has all the properties of gold.  

If you cut farther, and split the atom, you do not have gold anymore you have protons, neutrons and electrons... and lots of energy.

Answer 2

Paleobol has it right, almost. It is chemical properties that are maintained by the atom.

Answer 3

atom are  the portions  of molecule and molecules are the portions  of material

Answer 4

www.wikipedia.org

type in atom