Topic 1 - Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table Flashcards
What are the 3 subatomic particles?
- Protons
- Neutrons
- Electrons
Describe the structure of an atom.
- Nucleus with protons and neutrons
* Electron shells around the nucleus
Compare the size of the nucleus with the size of the whole atom.
Its diameter is relatively tiny.
What subatomic particles make up the nucleus?
Protons and neutrons
Where is most of the mass of the atom found?
The nucleus.
How are the masses and charges of subatomic particles given and why?
- As RELATIVE masses and RELATIVE charges
* Because the actual mass and charge values are tiny
What is the relative mass and charge of a proton?
Mass: 1
Charge: +1
What is the relative mass and charge of a neutron?
Mass: 1
Charge: 0
What is the relative mass and charge of an electron?
Mass: 0.0005
Charge: -1
What is a nuclear symbol?
- The symbol for an element found in the periodic table that shows its mass number and atomic number.
- e.g. 7Li3
What is the mass number?
The number of protons and neutrons in an element.
What is the symbol for the mass number?
A
What is the atomic number?
The number of protons in an element.
What is the symbol for the atomic number?
Z
What is another name for the atomic number?
Proton number
What identifies a particular element?
The atomic/proton number.
In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals…
The number of electrons.
How can you find the number of neutrons in an element?
No. of Neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number
What causes a negative ion to have a negative charge?
It has gained electrons (so it has more electrons than protons).
What causes a positive ion to have a positive charge?
It has lost electrons (so it has more protons than electrons).
What are isotopes?
Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Give an example of isotopes.
Cl-35 and Cl-37.
What determines the chemical properties of an element?
The number and arrangement of electrons.
What determines the physical properties of an element?
Usually the mass.