Atoms, Ions, Electrons Flashcards
Structure of an atom?
Atoms have a nucleus which consists of protons which are positively charged and neutrons which are neutrally charged. The nucleus is surrounded by electrons which are negatively charged.
Why are atoms neutral overall?
Because they have an equal number of protons (positively charged) and electrons (negatively charged) - the charges cancel each other out and become neutral.
How do valence electrons relate to the group the element is in in the periodic table?
The elements in each group have the same amount of valence electrons.
What is an ion?
An atom that has gained or lost electrons to become electrically charged. eg. oxide = O2-, sodium = Na+.
Diagrams for ions and atoms.
On each circle outline (shell), draw the amount of dots (electrons) that shell has.
Electron configurations for atoms and ions?
The first shell can hold up to 2 electrons, and the second and third shell can hold up to 8 electrons.
How and why are ions formed?
When an atom does not have a full valence shell it will lose or gain electrons to fill the outer shell and become more stable and electrically charged. A charged atom is an ion.
