Chemistry Flashcards
Describe the structure of an atom
An atom consists of a nucleus at its center, containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons that move in orbits around the nucleus
Do protons and electrons have the same charge?
No, protons have a positive charge, while electrons have a negative charge
Define the role of neutrons in an atom
Neutrons provide stability to the nucleus by acting as a binding force that mitigates the repulsive forces between positively charged protons
What does the mass of an atom primarily come from?
The mass of an atom primarily comes from the protons and neutrons in the nucleus, as they are significantly heavier than electrons
Explain the significance of atomic mass units
Atomic mass units (AMU) provide a manageable way to express the mass of atoms, with protons and neutrons weighing approximately 1 atomic unit each, while electrons weigh about 0.549 amu
What is the relationship between atomic number and protons?
The atomic number of an element indicates the number of protons found in that element, which is consistent across all atoms of that element
How can you determine the number of neutron in an atom?
The number of neutrons is determined by subtracting the atomic number by the mass number
Describe the importance of electrical charge in atomic structure
Electrical charge is fundamental to atomic structure as opposites attract; the positive charge of protons attracts the negative charge of electrons, keeping them within the atom
How do electrons behave in relation to the nucleus?
Electrons move rapidly in orbits around the nucleus but do not collide with protons due to their high speed and the attractive force between them
What does the atomic mass of an element indicate?
The atomic mass indicates the total number of protons and neutrons in an element
How does the periodic table represent elements?
Each element in the periodic table is represented by a box that contains its atomic number and atomic mass
Why are electrons typically disregarded in mass calculations of atoms?
Electrons are typically disregarded in mass calculations because their mass is so small compared to that of protons and neutrons
What is the charge of neutrons?
Neutrons carry no charge
What happens to electrons due to their rapid motion?
Electrons move too swiftly to be pulled into direct contact with protons, resulting in them orbiting around the nucleus
How does the atomic number differ between hydrogen and oxygen?
Hydrogen has an atomic number of 1, indicating 1 proton, while oxygen has an atomic number of 8, indicating 8 protons
Define isotopes and their significance in chemistry
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They share the same chemical properties but have different masses
What is an ion and how does it form?
An ion is an atom or group of atoms that carries an electrical charge. It forms when an atom gains or loses electrons, resulting in an imbalance between protons and electrons
Describe the charge of an atom when it becomes a negatively charged ion
When an atom gains an extra electron, it becomes negatively charged because it has more electrons than protons
Define a cation
A cation is a type of ion that carries a positive charge, formed when an atom loses electrons
Define an anion
An anion is a negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons, resulting in more electrons than protons
How are sugbshells categorized within shells?
Subshells are categorized by the letters s, p, d, and f, with each shell containing a specific number of subshells
List the sugbshells and their maximum electron capacities
S2, P6, D10, F14
Define the octet rule
The octet rule states that atoms prefer to have eight electrons in their outermost shell to achieve stability
Define ionic bonds
Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between atoms
