Light and Atomic Structures

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a given point per second.

Wavelength

The distance between consecutive peaks of a wave.

Frequency

The number of waves that pass a given point per second.

Wavelength

The distance between consecutive peaks of a wave.

Amplitude

The maximum extent of a wave's oscillation, related to the wave's intensity.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves.

Blackbody Radiation

The thermal electromagnetic radiation emitted by a body in thermodynamic equilibrium.

Photoelectric Effect

The emission of electrons when light shines on a material, demonstrating the particle nature of light.

Quantized Energy

Energy that can only exist in discrete values, not in a continuous range.

Quantum Number

A number that quantizes the energy levels of an electron in an atom.

Ground State

The lowest energy state of an electron in an atom.

Excited State

A state of an electron that has absorbed energy and moved to a higher energy level.

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

A principle stating it is impossible to know both the exact position and momentum of a particle at the same time.

Orbital

A region of space where there is a high probability of finding an electron.

Pauli Exclusion Principle

No two electrons in the same atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers.

Electron Configuration

The distribution of electrons in an atom's orbitals.

Condensed Electron Configuration

A simplified notation for electron configuration, using the nearest noble gas as a reference.

Isoelectronic

Atoms or ions that have the same number of electrons and the same electron configuration.

Sublevel

A division of the principal energy level that can hold a specific number of electrons.

Transition Metals

Elements found in the d-block of the periodic table, known for their ability to form multiple oxidation states.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding.