Chemistry Key Terms Flashcards
What is the defining structure of an element. It cannot be broken by any chemical means.
Atom
A negatively charged component of an atom. They surround the atoms nucleus.
Electron
A component of the nucleus with a mass number of 1 and a charge of +1.
Proton
A component of the nucleus with a mass defined as 1, and a charge of 0.
Neutron
The centre of an atom. Composed of neutrons and protons, and possessing most of the mass.
Nucleus
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table.
Atomic number
The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Mass number
A class of substances that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means.
Element
A substance composed of two or more elements.
Compound
An electrically charged atom, or group of atoms, formed by the loss or gain of one or more electrons.
Ion
A positively charged atom, or group of atoms, caused by an atom, or group of atoms, losing one or more electrons.
Cation
A negatively charged atom or group of atoms caused by an atom, or group of atoms, gaining one or more electrons.
Anion
An ion consisting of one atom.
Monatomic ion
An ion consisting of two or more atoms.
Polyatomic ion
Letters used to represent the individual elements in a compound.
Chemical formula
