Basics Of Matter Flashcards
What is the law of conservation of matter?
States that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it simply changes forms
Burnt log has the same amount matter in gas and ash
What is matter?
Anything that has mass and takes up space
What is an element?
A substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means
Ex. Hydrogen, helium, oxygen
What is an atom?
An atom is the smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of that element
What are the three subatomic structures of an atom?
- Proton
+ positive charge
1 AMU (Atomic Mass Unit)
- inside nucleus - Neutron
- neutral charge
1 AMU
- inside nucleus - Electron
— negative charge
- outside nucleus
1/1,836th AMU
** large distance between electron & nucleus **
What path does an electron take?
In a shell or valence
Are added when shells are filled up
What is a balanced atom?
Has the same number of protons & electrons
What is an atom with an imbalanced charge?
Ion
- can be positive (more protons)
or
negative (more electrons)
If each element has a set number of neutrons
—->
Often the same number of neutrons will equal the number of protons
What is an isotope?
Atom has a different number of neutrons than its normal amount
What is atomic mass?
Amount of matter that makes up an atom
Estimate an atomic mass in AMUs by adding up its total number
of protons
&
Neutrons
What is an atomic number?
Number of protons a particular atom has
Atomic number defines the type of element
What do isotopes radioactively decay back into?
What is half life?
Decay into their “normal” forms over time
Half life is the time required for half the atoms of a particular substance to disintegrate
continues to decay half of what is left
Chemical propertied of the periodic table are arranged in?
Columns
Ex. Noble gases, transitional metals
Atomic properties of an element are organized by?
Row
- atomic number and mass increase as you move left to right
