Topic 1: Atomic Structure Flashcards
Name the three subatomic particles in an atom.
- Protons
- Neutrons
- Electrons
What is the relative mass of protons, electrons and neutrons?
Proton = 1
Electron = 1/1840
Neutron = 1
What is the relative charge of protons, electrons and neutrons?
Proton = +1
Electron = -1
Neutron = 0
Where in the atom would you find protons, electrons and neutrons?
Protons = nucleus
Electrons = shells orbiting the nucleus
Neutrons = nucleus
What is the atomic number?
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
What is the mass number?
The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Explain why the atom has no electrical charge.
The atom has no electrical charge as the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. This means the total +1 charges of the protons cancel out the total -1 charges of the electrons.
How can the number of subatomic particles be determined?
By the mass number and the atomic number
How can the mass number and atomic number show the number of subatomic particles?
Number of protons = atomic number
Number of neutrons = mass number - atomic number
Number of electrons = number of protons (in an atom)
How are the electrons in an atom arranged?
In shells - they are at increasing distance from the nucleus
The first shell, closest to the nucleus, can contain a maximum of ….. electrons
2
The second shell can contain a maximum of ….. electrons
8
The third shell can contain a maximum of ….. electrons
8
The fourth shell can contain a maximum of ….. electrons
2
How can the electrons be represented when drawing an atom?
With an X or a dot
What happens when an atom becomes an ion?
The atom either gains or looses electrons.
Why do atoms want to be ions?
So that they have a full outer shell and are stable
What does the minus (-) sign when referring to an ion?
That the atom has GAINED electron(s)
What does the plus (+) sign when referring to an ion?
That the atom has LOST electron(s)
Name the charge of an ion from group 1
1+ (or just +)
Name the charge of an ion from group 2
2+
Name the charge of an ion from group 3
3+
Name the charge of an ion from group 5
3-
Name the charge of an ion from group 6
2-
Name the charge of an ion from group 7
1- (or just -)
What is an isotope?
Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of protons, but they have a different number of neutrons.
What is the relative atomic mass?
The relative atomic mass is the average mass of all the atoms of isotopes of an element relative to the mass of an atom of carbon-12.
How can the relative atomic mass be calculated?
R.A.M = the sum of (mass number x abundance) / sum of abundance
What is the name for a positively charged ion?
A cation
What is the name for a negatively charged ion?
an anion
What is a compound?
A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically combined.
