Atom Test Flashcards
Average atomic mass
The mass of the elements isotopes, waited according to the abundance of each isotopes
Atomic number
The number of protons in an element
Ions
And atom that is no longer neutral because it has gained or lost electrons
Isotopes
Adams of the same element that have different number of neutrons
Mass number
The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in and atom.
Protons
And atomic particle that has one positive charge
Two up and one down quark
Nucleus
Most of an atoms mass and positive charge is concentrated in a small area in the center of the atom
Electron
A particle with one negative charge
Nuclear decay
A process that occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus changes and do another more stable nucleus by emitting radiation
Alpha decay
Made up of two protons and neutrons, causing the atomic number to decrease by two
Two fewer protons two fewer neutrons
Beta decay
A neutron and and atom changes into a proton and a high energy electron called a beta particle causing the atomic number to increase by one as it gains a proton
One fewer neutron and one more proton
Gamma decay
Do not contain particles, but energy
Gamma rays can pass through things sheets of lead
Does not change one element into another
What is a STM used for
A scanning tunneling microscopeis an instrument used for imagingsurfaces at the atomic level
Democritus
He felt that all matter is made of small, solid objects that cannot be divided, created, or destroyed
Aristotle
They were the more popular idea- that all matter is made up of fire, water, air, and earth