Subatomic Particles, Atomic Structure, and Chemical Bonding

Vocabulary study flashcards based on the provided notes covering atomic structure, subatomic particles, ions, isotopes, valence electrons, and bonding types.

Proton

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus that has a positive ($+$) charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus that has a neutral ($0$) charge.

Electron

A subatomic particle found in the electron cloud or energy levels around the nucleus that has a negative ($-$) charge.

Subatomic Particles

The three fundamental components of an atom: protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Nucleus

The central part of an atom where protons and neutrons are found.

Electron Cloud / Energy Levels

The region surrounding the nucleus where electrons are located.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in an atom, which determines what element an atom is.

Mass Number (Atomic Mass)

The sum of the protons and neutrons in an atom ($\text{protons} + \text{neutrons}$).

Neutron Calculation

The formula used to calculate the number of neutrons in an atom: $\text{Mass number} - \text{atomic number} = \text{neutrons}$.

Neutral Atom

An atom where the number of electrons equals the number of protons ($\text{electrons} = \text{protons}$).

Ion

An atom with a positive or negative charge that forms when an atom gains or loses electrons.

Valence Electrons

The electrons in the outermost energy level that are involved in chemical bonding.

Main-Group Valence Electron Rule

The rule for determining valence electrons from periodic table groups: Group 1 has $1$, Group 2 has $2$, Group 13 has $3$, Group 14 has $4$, Group 15 has $5$, Group 16 has $6$, Group 17 has $7$, and Group 18 has $8$ (except helium, which has $2$).

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that still retains the properties of that element.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons, such as Carbon-12 and Carbon-14.

Ion vs. Isotope

Ions have different numbers of electrons, whereas isotopes have different numbers of neutrons.

Molecule

Two or more atoms covalently bonded together.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed typically between a metal and a nonmetal where electrons are transferred from one atom to another, causing one atom to lose electrons and the other to gain electrons.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed typically between nonmetals where atoms share electrons.