Atoms, Molecules, & Ions

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to atoms, molecules, ions, isotopes, and their properties.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons and different masses.

Natural abundance

The percentage of a specific isotope found in nature compared to the total amount of that element's isotopes.

Atomic mass

The weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, typically expressed in atomic mass units (amu).

Alpha decay

A type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (2 protons and 2 neutrons) and transforms into another element.

Beta decay

A type of radioactive decay in which a neutron is converted into a proton and an electron is emitted.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion that occurs when an atom loses one or more electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion that occurs when an atom gains one or more electrons.

Mass spectrometer

An instrument used to measure the masses and abundances of isotopes by ionizing atoms and separating them based on their mass-to-charge ratio.

Cerium (IV) sulfide

An ionic compound formed between cerium and sulfide ions, with cerium in a +4 oxidation state.

Polyatomic ions

Ions composed of two or more atoms covalently bonded that carry an overall charge.

Molecular formula

A chemical formula that specifies the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.

Covalent bond

A type of chemical bond where two nonmetal atoms share pairs of electrons.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Alpha particle

A particle consisting of two protons and two neutrons ejected from the nucleus during alpha decay.

Electron capture

A process in which an atomic nucleus captures one of its own electrons, converting a proton into a neutron.

Nuclear fission

The process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus into two lighter nuclei, releasing energy.

Hydrogen isotopes

Forms of hydrogen that include protium (H-1), deuterium (H-2), and tritium (H-3), each differing in neutrons.

Carbon dating

A method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by measuring the content of carbon-14.

Chemical reaction

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.