Chapter 2.1 - Atomic structure and isotopes Flashcards
What is the structure of an atom?
An atom contains a positive nucleus with protons and neutrons and has electrons surrounding it in energy levels/shells
What are the three sub-atomic particles?
- Protons
- Neutrons
- Electrons
What are the properties of protons?
- Relative mass of 1
- Relative charge of 1+
- Found in the nucleus
What are the properties of neutrons?
- Relative mass of 1
- Relative charge of 0
- Found in the nucleus
What are the properties of electrons?
- Relative mass of 0
- Relative charge of 1-
- Found in energy levels/shells surrounding the nucleus
What is the atomic number?
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and determines what element it is
What is the mass number?
The combined number of protons and neutrons within the nucleus of an atom
Why does an atom have the same number of protons as well as electrons?
The charges need to balance out so that the element is an atom and not an ion for instance
What is an ion?
A positively or negatively charged atom or a group of atoms where the number of electrons is different from the number of protons
How would you predict the ionic charge of an atom?
From the position of the element in the periodic table
What is a cation?
A positively charged ion with fewer electrons than protons
What is an anion?
A negatively charged ion with more electrons than protons
What are isotopes?
Atoms of an element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
Why do isotopes of a same element react in similar ways?
They have the same number of electrons but a different number of neutrons, which has no effect on chemical reactions therefore different isotopes of an element react in similar ways
What are the differences isotopes have for their physical properties?
- A higher melting point
- A higher boiling point
- A higher density
