The nuclear model of the atom Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe the structure of an atom.

A

a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electrons in orbit around the nucleus

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2
Q

How can atoms form positive ions?

A

losing electrons

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3
Q

How can atoms form negative ions?

A

gaining electrons

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4
Q

What is an experiment to support the nuclear model of the atom?

A

scattering of alpha particles by a sheet of thin metal

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5
Q

What does Rutherford’s Alpha Particle Scattering experiment prove?

A
  • there is a very small nucleus surrounded by mostly empty space
  • nucleus contains most of atom’s mass
  • positive nucleus
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6
Q

What is the nucleus composed of?

A

protons and neutrons

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7
Q

Relative charge of proton?

A

+1

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8
Q

Relative charge of neutron?

A

0

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9
Q

Relative charge of electron?

A

-1

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10
Q

What is the proton number?

A

number of protons found in the nucleus

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11
Q

What is the atomic number?

A

number of protons found in the nucleus

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12
Q

The electron and proton numbers are equal in…

A

an atom (neutral)

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13
Q

The electron and proton numbers are unequal in…

A

ions (charged)

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14
Q

What is the nucleon number?

A

total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

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15
Q

What is the mass number?

A

total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

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16
Q

How can you calculate the number of neutrons in a nucleus?

A

nucleon number - proton number

17
Q

What is the symbol A?

A

nucleon number

18
Q

What is the symbol Z?

A

proton number

19
Q

What is the symbol X?

A

element

20
Q

What is the symbol for an element?

A

X

21
Q

What is the symbol for nucleon number?

A

A

22
Q

What is the symbol for proton number?

A

Z

23
Q

What is an isotope?

A

atoms of the same element with the same number of protons and electrons, but different neutron numbers

24
Q

What is an isotope, in terms of nucleon and proton numbers?

A

different nucleon number of the atoms, same proton number

25
Q

Describe the process of nuclear fusion.

A

lighter nuclei collide with high energy and join to form a larger nucleus, releasing energy

26
Q

What is the difference between nuclear fission and fusion?

A

nuclear fission - splitting of heavy nuclei
nuclear fusion - joining of 2 light nuclei

27
Q

What is the nuclide equation for nuclear fusion?

A
  • you add the nucleon and proton numbers
  • total nucleon number is the same before and after
28
Q

Describe the process of nuclear fission.

A
  • heavy nuclei are often unstable, so they break apart
  • either independently or if a neutron is fired into the large nucleus, triggering it to break apart
  • energy is released
29
Q

What is the nuclide equation for nuclear fusion?

A
  • total nucleon number is conserved
    atom + neutron -> atom1 + atom2 + neutrons
30
Q

Describe the mass and energy changes in nuclear fission and fusion.

A

they both release energy by decreasing mass slightly

31
Q

How is energy released in nuclear fission/fusion?

A

decreasing mass slightly, typically around 0.1%