General Chemistry Review Flashcards
What is an atom?
Consisting of a dense nucleus:
-positively charged protons
-uncharged neutrons
And a negatively charged electron cloud
What is the charge of an atom?
Neutral
What is the charge of protons?
Positive
What is the charge of neutrons?
Neutral
What is the charge of electrons?
Negative
What is located in the nucleus of an atom?
- Protons
- Neutrons
Where are electrons located?
Electrons are located outside the nucleus in the electron cloud.
What is an ion?
An ion refers to an atom or a molecule w/ either a negative or positive net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.
What are the two types of ions?
- Cation
- Anion
What is a cation?
A cation is an ion with a positive charge.
What is an anion?
An anion is an ion with a negative charge.
How are ions created?
Ions are created by either adding or removing electrons
What are valence electrons?
Valence electrons are the electrons located in the outermost electron shell
What is the electron shell?
The electron shell is the orbit the electrons travel in the electron cloud around the nucleus.
How many electrons can fill the valence electrons shell?
8 electrons
Why is the valence electron shell important?
The valence electron shell is the only shell used for bonding.
What is the difference between a filled and unfilled valence electron shell?
A filled valence electron shell is more stable than an unfilled electron shell.
How are ionic bonds formed?
Ionic bonds are formed when ions of the opposite charge attract and form ionic bonds.
What are covalent bonds?
Covalent bonds are the sharing of electrons due to the difference in electronegativity.
*The atom w/ the higher electronegativity will pull the electrons of the atom w/ the lower electronegativity towards it, causing the atoms to share electrons.
How many valence electrons does C (Carbon) have?
4
*6 in total- 2 in the first shell, 4 in the valence electron shell.
What makes the C (Carbon) atom special?
- Long chains
- Branched chains
- Multiple bonds
- Different geometric shapes for a compound while maintaining the same connections
- Bonding to different atoms
