Atomic Structure Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to atomic structure.

Atom

Smallest particle of an element.

Proton

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a relative mass of 1 and a relative charge of +1.

Neutron

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a relative mass of 1 and a relative charge of 0.

Electron

A subatomic particle located in the electron cloud with a relative mass of 1/2000 and a relative charge of -1.

Isotopes

Forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Isotopic Notation

A tool to indicate what is in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron Cloud

The area surrounding the nucleus where electrons are located, held by electrostatic forces.

Electron Shell

Electrons exist in particular energy levels or shells around the nucleus; each shell holds a specific number of electrons calculated by 2n^2.

Electron Configuration

The arrangement of electrons in the shells around the nucleus, following the order of filling lower energy levels first (e.g., 2, 8, 8, 2 for the first 20 elements).

Periodic Table

Elements arranged in order of increasing atomic number (number of protons in the nucleus).

Groups (columns)

Vertical columns in the periodic table; elements in the same group have similar chemical properties and the same number of valence electrons.

Periods (rows)

Horizontal rows in the periodic table; elements in the same period have the same number of electron shells.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost energy level (shell) of an atom.