LIFEF002 Atomic and Electronic Structure

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to atomic structure, isotopes, and mass spectrometry based on the lecture notes for LIFEF002.

Atomic Structure

The arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom.

Isotopes

Atoms with the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons.

Mass Number

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

Proton (Atomic) Number

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

Relative Atomic Mass (Ar)

The average mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12th the mass of one atom of carbon-12.

Relative Isotopic Mass

The mass of a specific isotope of an element.

Mass Spectrometry

A technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions, allowing for the determination of atomic and molecular masses.

Fractional Mass Numbers

Mass numbers that reflect the weighted average of isotopic masses based on their relative abundances.

Carbon Isotopes Example

C-12 has 6 neutrons, C-13 has 7 neutrons, and C-14 has 8 neutrons, all with 6 protons.

Mass Spectrum

A graphical representation of the mass-to-charge ratios of ions, showing their relative abundances.