Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to atomic structure and the periodic table.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Mass Number

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A particle with no charge found in the nucleus of an atom.

Density

The mass of a substance per unit volume, typically expressed in g/cm³.

Electron Shell

The region around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.

Electrostatic Forces

Forces that attract or repel charged particles, holding electrons in place.

Electronic Configuration

The arrangement of electrons in an atom's electron shells.

Rutherford Model

An early model of the atom characterized by a dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons.

Bohr Model

A model of the atom in which electrons move in fixed orbits around the nucleus.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Periodic Table

A table of the chemical elements arranged by atomic number, which displays their properties.

Hydrogen

The simplest and most abundant element, with an atomic number of 1.

Sodium

A soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal with the atomic number 11.

Iron

A strong, malleable metal with an atomic number of 26, commonly used in construction.

Boron

A metalloid element with an atomic number of 5, used in various applications like glass and ceramics.

Mass Comparison

The evaluation of the mass of different elements to determine their relative densities.

Nucleus

The central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.

Niels Bohr

A Danish physicist who developed the Bohr model of the atom, explaining electron arrangements.