Ions, atoms and isotopes/ Electronic Structures Flashcards
State what an ion is.
An ion is an atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net electrical charge.
Define an isotope.
An isotope is when the same element has different mass numbers, but the same atomic number.
State the relative sizes of an atom and its nucleus.
The nucleus is roughly 100,000 times smaller than the atom itself
Explain why ions have a charge.
They lose or gain electrons which changes the balance between the number of protons and electrons, resulting in a charge.
Describe the size of an atom and its nucleus in standard form.
Atom: 10^-10 m
Nucleus: 10^-15 m
Explain why chlorine does not have a whole mass number.
Chlorine does not have a whole mass number because it exists as a mixture of isotopes, which have different numbers of neutrons and therefore different masses.
Where are electrons found in an atom?
In the Energy levels (shells).
What is the maximum number of electrons in the first three energy levels?
First shell: 2
Second Shell: 8
Third Shell: 8
Why do elements in the same group react in a similar way?
Elements in the same group of the periodic table react in a similar way because they have the same number of electrons in their outermost shell (also called valence electrons). The chemical properties of an element are largely determined by these valence electrons, as they are involved in chemical bonding and reactions.
