Electrochemistry Flashcards
What is Electrochemistry?
The study of the interconversion of chemical energy and electrical energy.
What does it mean for an atom to be in a ground state?
All of its electrons are in the lowest available energy levels.
What does it mean for an atom to be in an excited state?
Electron absorbs energy and jumps to a level of higher energy.
In what form do electrons release release energy?
electromagnetic radiation (light)
What is Oxidation?
The loss of electrons.
When an electron is removed from a neutral atom it becomes what?
A cation
What is a cation?
A positively charged atom with a decrease in its oxidation state. (lost electrons)
What is reduction?
The gain of electrons.
When an electron is added to a neutral atom it becomes what?
An Anion
What is an Anion?
an atom that is negatively charged and has a decrease in its oxidation state. (gained electrons)
What is an electrolytic cell?
When energy is used to force a non-spontaneous chemical reaction to occur.
What is a battery?
A collection of electrochemical cells (voltaic cells) in which a chemical reaction occurs spontaneously to produce electric energy.
Where does oxidation occur?
In the anode (the positive electrode)
Where does reduction occur?
the cathode (the negative electrode)
What is a half-reaction?
The reaction occurring at each electrode.
What are energy levels?
Regions in the electron cloud where electrons are likely to be found.
Where is the lowest energy level?
Closest to the nucleus
Where is the highest energy level?
Farthest away from the nucleus
What do electrons occupy first?
The lowest available energy level.
What are valence electrons?
The outermost electrons in an atom.
What does the period (row) correspond to?
The highest energy level occupied by the valence electrons in an element (row=ring)
What does the group (column) correspond to?
The number of valence electrons in an element.
What is an ion?
An atom that has a charge because it has gained or lost electrons.
What is the amount of charge equal to?
The number of electrons lost or gained.