Atomic Structure, Subatomic Particles, and Isotopes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the structure of the atom, subatomic particles, groups of the periodic table, types of ions, isotopes, and average atomic mass calculations.

Core Electrons

The electrons located on the inside energy level or shell of an atom.

Valence Electrons

The electrons situated in the outermost or last energy level of an atom.

Alkali Metals

Elements located in Group $1\text{A}$ of the periodic table that contain $1$ valence electron.

Alkali Earth Metals

Elements located in Group $2\text{A}$ of the periodic table that contain $2$ valence electrons.

Halogens

Elements located in Group $7\text{A}$ of the periodic table that contain $7$ valence electrons.

Atomic Number

The number on the periodic table that equals the number of protons and identifies the element.

Mass Number

The number representing the total count of protons and neutrons in an atom, equal to the atomic number plus the neutron number.

Electric Force

The force that causes opposite charges to attract and like charges to repel each other.

Strong Nuclear Force

The force that holds the nucleus together and keeps positively charged protons from repelling one another.

Ion

A particle that contains unequal amounts of protons and electrons, resulting in an electrical charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion that contains more protons than electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion that contains more electrons than protons.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element having identical atomic numbers, proton counts, and chemical reactivity, but differing in mass numbers, neutron counts, and nuclear properties.

Average Atomic Mass

The weighted average of the masses of all isotopes of an element found in nature, calculated by multiplying each isotope's mass by its relative percent abundance in decimal form.