Atomic Structure Review

A set of flashcards designed to review key concepts and terms related to atomic structure from the lecture on atomic structure.

What is an atom?

The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.

What distinguishes different types of atom?

Different types of atoms are distinguished by their atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus.

What is the structure of the atomic nucleus?

The atomic nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons, known as nucleons.

What is an Isotope?

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.

What keeps the nucleus of an atom together?

The strong nuclear force acts as a 'glue' to keep protons and neutrons together in the nucleus.

What is binding energy?

The amount of energy required to remove an electron from its atom.

What is the atomic number (Z)?

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which defines the element.

What is the mass number (A)?

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

What is a cation?

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

How do X-rays ionise atoms?

X-rays can remove shell-bound electrons if they have sufficient energy to overcome the binding energy.

What does the electron configuration represent?

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

Why is understanding atomic structure important in radiography?

Understanding atomic structure is essential because X-rays interact with matter on the atomic scale.

Who proposed the planetary model of the atom?

Ernest Rutherford proposed the planetary model after conducting his gold foil experiment.

What are the key components of an atom?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the key components of an atom.

What are electron orbitals?

Regions in which electrons are likely to be found around the nucleus, often described as 'shells'.

What role do neutrons play in the nucleus?

Neutrons help to stabilize the nucleus by acting as a buffer between positively charged protons.

What is an example of a compound?

Water (H2O) is a compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

What is the significance of the periodic table?

The periodic table organizes elements based on increasing atomic mass and similar chemical properties.

What is the typical size comparison for an atom?

An atom is comparable in size to a football stadium when its nucleus is represented by a marble.

How is mass measured in relation to atomic structure?

Mass of atomic particles is measured in atomic mass units (AMUs), where 1 proton = 1 AMU.

What happens to an atom when it becomes ionised?

When ionised, an atom has a net electrical charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.