Atomic Structure

Question 1

Define atom

Answer 1

Neutral particle with a nucleus that forms the smallest unit of an element

Question 2

Define element

Answer 2

Chemical species consisting of a single type of atoms

Question 3

Define electrons

Answer 3

Negatively charged entities that form part of an atom

Question 4

Define protons

Answer 4

Positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom

Question 5

Define neutron

Answer 5

Neutral subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom

Question 6

Define nucleus

Answer 6

Central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons

Question 7

Describe subatomic particles

Answer 7

Electrons, protons and neutrons

Question 8

Define ion

Answer 8

A charged atom

Question 9

Describe the characteristic of atoms that are neutrally charged

Answer 9

Atom has the same number of protons and electrons

Question 10

State what an atom becomes if it gains or loses an electron

Answer 10

Ion

Question 11

Define molecule

Answer 11

A group of atoms bonded together covalently

Question 12

Describe atomic number

Answer 12

Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of a particular element

Question 13

Describe central atom

Answer 13

Atom in a molecule with the most bonding electrons

Question 14

Describe electron configuration

Answer 14

Arrangement of electrons in the shells of an atom

Question 15

Describe mass number

Answer 15

Total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of a particular element

Question 16

Define isotope

Answer 16

Form of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus

Question 17

Describe isotopic symbol

Answer 17

Representation of an element as a/zE where E is the symbol for the element, A is the mass number and Z is the atomic number

Question 18

Compare nanometres and metres

Answer 18

A nanometre is one billionth of a metre: nm = 10^-9 m

Question 19

Describe what is observed when white light is separated by a prism

Answer 19

Continuous spectrum of colour

Question 20

Describe what is produced when emitted light is passed through a prism

Answer 20

Atomic emission spectrum

Question 21

Describe why atoms of an element emit light

Answer 21

Atoms of the element absorb energy and then lose it, emitting it as light

Question 22

Describe what Bohr proposed to explain electron movement

Answer 22

Electrons of specific energy move around the central nucleus in circular orbits or energy levels

Question 23

According to Bohr’s model, can electrons exist between energy levels?

Answer 23

No. Electrons cannot exist between energy levels.

Question 24

According to Bohr’s model, what is ground state?

Answer 24

Lowest energy level

Question 25

According to Bohr’s model, what is the excited state?

Answer 25

Higher energy level

Question 26

According to Bohr’s model, what might cause an electron to move from a ground state to an excited state?

Answer 26

Excess energy is donated to the electron by a flame or electric current

Question 27

According to Bohr’s model, when does an electron release light?

Answer 27

Electron drops back from a higher energy level to ground state

Question 28

According to Bohr’s model, what do the emission spectrum lines correspond to?

Answer 28

Energy differences between shells

Question 29

Describe the capacity of an electron shell

Answer 29

2n^2 (n is the shell number or energy level)

Question 30

Name the four shells inwards to outwards

Answer 30

K, L, M, N

Question 31

State the currently accepted model of an atom and who created it

Answer 31

Erwin Schrodinger

Quantum Mechanical Model

Question 32

According to the quantum mechanical model, how do electrons move?

Answer 32

Electrons orbit in a region of space, called an ‘orbital’

Question 33

State the 2 principles of the quantum mechanical model

Answer 33

1. energy levels of electrons are designated (K, L, M, N)

2. within each shell, several different energy levels called subshells are present

Question 34

What are subshells represented by in the quantum mechanical model?

Answer 34

s, p, d, f

Question 35

State 2 elements which have atypical electron configurations

Answer 35

1. Chromium

2. Copper

Question 36

State what the atom is mainly composed of

Answer 36

Empty space

Question 37

Describe what particles at the atomic level are measured using

Answer 37

The nanometre

Question 38

Describe nanotechnology

Answer 38

Works at the scale of atoms and molecules

Question 39

State the maximum number of electrons that can be held in the s subshell

Answer 39

2 electrons

Question 40

State the maximum number of electrons that can be held in the p subshell

Answer 40

6 electrons

Question 41

State the maximum number of electrons that can be held in the d subshell

Answer 41

10 electrons

Question 42

State the maximum number of electrons that can be held in the f subshell

Answer 42

14 electrons

Question 43

Describe how electrons fills shells and subshells

Answer 43

Lowest energy levels are filled first