Chapter 4 Key Concepts Flashcards
What are three types of subatomic particles?
Electrons, protons, and neutrons
What instrument can be used to observe individual atoms?
They are observable with instruments such as scanning tunneling microscopes
What distinguishes the atoms of one element from the atoms of another?
They contain different numbers of protons
What equation tells you how to calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?
The number of neutrons in an atom is the difference between the mass number and atomic number
How do the isotopes of a given element differ from one another?
Because isotopes of an element have different numbers of neutrons, they also have different mass numbers
How is atomic mass calculated?
Multiply the mass of each isotope by its natural abundance, expressed as a decimal, and then add the products
What makes the periodic table such a useful tool?
It allows you to easily compare the properties of one element to another element
