Electrons of an Atom Vocabulary Test Flashcards
Amplitude
a measurement of the amount of energy transferred by a wave
Atomic Emission Spectrum
the pattern of lines formed when light passes through a prism to separate it into the different frequencies of light it contains
Atomic Orbital
the places surrounding the nucleus of an atom where the electrons are most likely to be at any given time
Aufbau Principle
electrons fill lower-energy atomic orbitals before filling higher-energy ones
De Broglies Equation
λ=hmv to solve for the wavelength of the moving electron
Electromagnetic Radiation
a form of energy that propagates as both electrical and magnetic waves traveling in packets of energy called photons
Electron Configuration
is the distribution of electrons of an atom or molecule in atomic or molecular orbitals
Energy Level
fixed distances from the nucleus of an atom where electrons may be found
Frequency
the number of waves that pass a given point in one second
Ground State
the lowest allowed energy state of an atom, molecule, or ion
Heisenberg uncertainty principle
we cannot know both the position and speed of a particle, such as a photon or electron, with perfect accuracy
Hertz (Hz)
the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second
Hund’s rule
every orbital in a subshell is singly occupied with one electron before any one orbital is doubly occupied, and all electrons in singly occupied orbitals have the same spin
Pauli exclusion principle
no two electrons in the same atom can have identical values for all four of their quantum numbers
Photoelectric effect
When light shines on a metal, electrons can be ejected from the surface of the metal
