Atomic Structure Flashcards
What are atoms?
Atoms are the smallest particles of which elements are made.
What are atoms made up of?
Three “sub-atomic” particles. These are called protons, neutrons and electrons.
What units are used to measure protons, neutrons and electrons?
Atomic mass units a.m.u.
What is the mass number?
The number of protons and neutrons together is called the mass number.
What does the mass of a number depend on?
The mass of an atom depends on the number of protons and neutrons it contains.
How are protons, neutrons and electrons charged?
Protons are charged positively (+1), electrons are charged negatively(-1) and neutrons are uncharged.
What is the atomic number?
The number of protons.
What is the basic word equation for working out protons, neutrons and electrons?
Number of neutrons=Mass number- Atomic number.
Look at pages 3-4 of booklet and at notes on sheer for how to illustrate atomic diagrams.
How many electrons can be held in each shell of an atom?
Nucleus with protons and neutrons, then the first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, the second up to 8, the third ip to 8 and the fourth up to 2.
How do we get ions? What are their purpose? What is an ion?
Elements which are less stable (because they have incomplete outer shells) can achieve more stability by either losing or gaining electrons to give them complete outer shells. The atoms the become ions.
What The most stable sets of gases?
The noble gases helium, neon and argon.
What are the most common less or unstable elements?
Non metal elements. They need to gain a full outer shell.
Do ions change name?
Non metals do. When non-metals gain electrons they change names. E.g chlorine atom to chloride ion.
What charges do ions have?
Ions either have positive or negative charges.
What endings to non metal elements all change to when they become ions.
-ide endings.
What is the approximate size of an atom?
0.0000001mm or 1.0x10 to the power of -10. This is for hydrogen but is an approximate answer for all atoms.
What is nanoscience?
Nanoscience is the study of nano particles, and is a relatively new area of science.
What is a nanoparticle?
A nanometre (nm) is one millionth of a millimetre. A nanoparticle is a particle between 1 to 100 nano metres in size.
Give two examples where nanoparticles are used?
What is a disadvantage of nanoparticles?
It can speed up reactions in indictable ways. It can be toxic even if the bulk material is not toxic ( they can pour through the skin and membranes).
