Unit 2 Study Guide

Answer with TERM

Proton

a subatomic particle with a positive charge

+1

What is the charge of a proton?

The nucleus

Where is the proton located in an atom?

Neutron

a subatomic particle with a neutral charge

0

What is the charge of a neutron?

The nucleus

Where is the neutron located in an atom?

Electron

a subatomic particle with a negative charge

-1

What is the charge of an electron?

The orbitals

Where is the electron located in an atom?

Nucleus

the positively charged center of the atom consisting of protons and neutrons

Orbital

a function describing the possible location of an electron in an atom

Atom

indivisible and indestructible

Atomic Mass

the average mass of an element based on the percent abundance of its isotopes

Average Atomic Mass Equation

(mass of isotope #1 x % abundance) + (mass of isotope #2 x % abundance) + …

Atomic Number

the number of protons

Mass Number

the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons

Isotope

when an atom has the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons

Quantum

describes the location and energy level of an electron in an atom

Quantum Mechanical Model

tells us that electrons orbit the atom in random ways and pictures the atom as being surrounded by an electron cloud containing all the possible places that the electron might be

Electromagnetic Spectrum

the range of all types of EM radiation

Alpha Particle

composite particles consisting of two protons and two neutrons tightly bound together

+2

What is the charge of an alpha particle?

A helium atom’s nucleus

What is an alpha particle equivalent to?

Beta Particle

a high-energy, fast-moving electron or positron emitted from the nucleus of an unstable atom during radioactive decay

-1

What is the charge of a beta particle?

A neutron turning into a proton that releases an electron

What is a beta particle equivalent to?

Decay

change of an element into a different element, usually with some other particle(s) and energy emitted

Fission

a neutron hitting an unstable nucleus and causing it to split into smaller nuclei; releases a good amount of energy

Fusion

two small nuclei merge to form one large nucleus; releases a large amount of energy (the sun)

Fusion Gamma Ray

the high-energy gamma radiation emitted during a nuclear fusion reaction

Half-Life

the time it takes for a radioactive element to lose half of its mass

Radiation

the emission of energy from a source in the form of waves or particles, typically coming from unstable atoms undergoing radioactive decay, where the nucleus releases energy as it attempts to become stable

Radioactivity

the release of energy from the decay of the nuclei of certain kinds of atoms and isotopes