Atoms, Elements, Molecules, and compounds Flashcards
Atom
the smallest particle of an element that can exist
Element
a pure chemical substance that cannot be physically split into a more simple substance. each is made of one type of atom. carbon, mercury and hydrogen are examples.
Molecule
the smallest particle of a substance that can exist. it is composed of two or more atoms
Compound
a substance made of atoms from two or more elements
proton
a particle of matter that has positive electrical charge and found in the nucleus of an atom
Neutron
a particle of matter that has no electrical charge and found in the nucleus of an atom
Electron
a particle of matter that has a negative electrical charge and travels around the nucleus of an atom
Atomic number
= the number of protons in an element’s atoms. top number in the element box
Mass number
number of protons plus neutrons. bottom numbers in element box
Chemical symbol
a one or two letter representation of an element
Subscript
tiny number to the right of the element symbol. tells you how many atoms of that element