chem vocab

Plating

Coating a surface with a metal layer.

Chemical Property

Characteristic that describes a substance's reactivity.

Periodic Table

Arrangement of elements by atomic number.

Non Metals

Elements that lack metallic properties.

Malleability

Ability of a material to be shaped or bent.

Electrically Conductive

Ability to conduct electric current.

Atom

Basic unit of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, electrons.

Neutron

Neutral particle in an atom's nucleus.

Ions

Charged atoms due to loss or gain of electrons.

Atomic Mass

Weighted average mass of an element's isotopes.

Valence Electron

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom.

Lewis Dot Structure

Diagram showing valence electrons around an atom.

Orbitals

Regions in an atom where electrons are likely found.

Electron Configuration (Noble Gas)

Arrangement of electrons using noble gas shorthand.

Electronegativity

Tendency of an atom to attract electrons.

Reactivity

How readily a substance undergoes chemical reactions.

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements, highly reactive with water.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Group 2 elements, reactive but less than alkali metals.

Halogens

Group 17 elements, very reactive nonmetals.

Physical Property

Characteristic observable without changing substance's identity.

Metals

Elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity.

Metalloids

Elements with properties of both metals and nonmetals.

Luster

Shiny appearance of a material's surface.

Ductility

Ability to be drawn into wires.

Group

Vertical column in the periodic table.

Bohr Model

Model depicting electrons in fixed orbits around nucleus.

Proton

Positively charged particle in an atom's nucleus.

Electron

Negatively charged particle orbiting an atom's nucleus.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different neutron counts.

Atomic Number

Number of protons in an atom's nucleus.

Energy Level

Fixed distance from nucleus where electrons reside.

Quantum Mechanical Model

Describes electron behavior as wave functions.

Electron Configuration (Standard)

Full description of electron arrangement in an atom.

Atomic Radius

Distance from nucleus to outermost electron.

Ionization Energy

Energy required to remove an electron from an atom.

Periodic Trends

Patterns in element properties across the periodic table.

Noble Gases

Group 18 elements, inert and nonreactive gases.

Transition Metals

Elements in groups 3-12, known for variable oxidation states.