Atomic Composition Flashcards
What is an atom?
Atoms are the smallest units of matter and consist of a tightly packed nucleus of protons and neutrons with electrons orbiting around it. They are the fundamental building blocks of life
What is a molecule?
Molecules are groups of 2 or more atoms chemically bonded, that make up the smallest unit of an element or compound
What is an element?
An element is a substance composed of only one type of atom. Each element is represented by a unique chemical symbol (e.g., H for hydrogen, O for oxygen)
What is a compound?
A substance composed of two or more different elements chemically bonded together in fixed ratios (e.g., water, H₂O, consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom)
What is a chemical reaction?
Where one or more substances, also called reactants, are converted to one or more different substances, known as products
What happens in a chemical reaction?
In a chemical reaction, the bonds between atoms are broken and reformed
What is the conservation of mass principle and how does it relate to chemical reactions?
The conservation of mass principle states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, meaning that in a chemical reaction, the total number of atoms before and after are the same
