Atomic Structure Flashcards
What does an atom consist of?
Atoms consist of electrons surrounding a nuclear that contains protons and neutrons.
What relative charge do protons have?
Protons have a relative charge of +1.
What relative charge do electrons have?
Electrons have a relative charge of -1.
What types of charges do neutrons, protons and electrons have?
Neutrons are neutral, but protons and electrons are electrically charged.
How are atoms arranged on the periodic table?
In the periodic table atoms are arranged in atomic number order.
What is an atomic number?
The number of protons in an atom is called its atomic number.
What is an electronic structure?
The electronic structure of an atom is a description of how the electrons are arranged, which can be shown in a diagram or by numbers.
How are electrons arranged?
Electrons are arranged in energy levels or shells, and different energy levels or shells can hold different numbers of electrons.
What does the word ‘atom’ mean?
The word ‘atom’ comes from the Greek word for indivisible. However we know now that atoms are not the smallest particles of matter.
What are atoms made from?
Atoms are made from smaller subatomic particles.
What is the structure of an atom?
At the center of an atom is a nucleus containing protons and neutrons. Electrons are arranged around the nucleus in energy levels or shells.
Why do atoms have no overall charge?
The total number of electrons in an atom is always the same as the number of protons in the nucleus. This means atoms have no overall electrical charge.
How are electrons arranged?
Electrons are arranged in different shells around the nucleus. The innermost shell - or lowest energy level - is filled first.
What is the capacity of electrons and their shells?
Each succeeding shell can only hold a certain number of electrons before it becomes full.
How many electrons can the innermost shell hold?
The innermost shell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons, the second shell a maximum of 8 and so on.
How to use the periodic table to work out an electronic structure - Step 1
Find the element in the periodic table. Work out which period it’s in, and draw that number of circles around the nucleus.
How to use the periodic table to work out an electronic structure - Step 2
Work out which group the element is in and draw that number of electrons in the outer circle - with eight for group 0 elements - except helium.
How to use the periodic table to work out an electronic structure - Step 3
Fill the other circles with electrons. Remember - two in the first, eight in the second and third, and eighteen in the fourth.
How to use the periodic table to work out an electronic structure - Step 4
Finally, count your electrons and check that they equal the atomic number.
