Definitions

Question 1

What is an electron

Answer 1

It is a negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits an atomic nucleus.

Question 2

Define atomic orbital

Answer 2

It is the region in space that within has a high probability of finding an electron

Question 3

Define mass number

Answer 3

The mass number of an element is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of that element

Question 4

Define relative atomic mass (4)

Answer 4

Is defined as:

1. The average of the mass numbers of the isotopes of the element,
2. As they occur naturally.
3. Taking their abundances into account and
4. expressed on a scale in which the atoms of the carbon-12 isotope have a mass of exactly 12 units.

Question 5

Define the principle of mass spectrometry

Answer 5

It is the charged particles moving in a magnetic field are deflected to different extents according to their masses and are thus separated according to these masses

Question 6

Define valency

Answer 6

The valency of an element is defined as the number of atoms of hydrogen or any other monovalent element with which each atom of the element combines
(O combines with 2 H so H2O has a valency of 2)

Question 7

Define electronegativity

Answer 7

It is the relative attraction that an atom in a molecule has for the shared pair of electrons in a covalent bond

Question 8

what electronegativity difference indicates ionic bonding in a compound?

Answer 8

An electronegativity difference greater than 1.7 indicates ionic bonding in a compound

Question 9

what electronegativity difference indicates covalent bonding in a compound?

Answer 9

An electronegativity difference less than or equal to 1.7 indicates covalent bonding in a compound

Question 10

what electronegativity difference indicates that the covalent bonding in a compound is polar covalent?

Answer 10

A difference greater than 0.4 and less than 1.7 indicates that the covalent bond is polar covalent

Question 11

Define intramolecular bonding

think intravenous

Answer 11

Intramolecular bonding is bonding that takes place within a molecule i.e. it holds the atoms together (covalent bonding and polar bonding)

Question 12

Define intermolecular forces

Answer 12

Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction that exist between molecules .i.e. van der Waals forces, dipole-dipole forces and hydrogen bonding

Question 13

Define ground state

Answer 13

The ground state of an atom is one in which the electrons occupy the lowest available energy level (n=1)

Question 14

Define excited state

Answer 14

The excited state of an electron is when the electron occupies higher energy levels than those available in the ground state

Question 15

Define energy level

Answer 15

It is defined as the fixed energy value that an electron in an atom may have