Fundamental Particles and Atomic Structure

Flashcards covering key concepts related to atomic structure, fundamental particles, and their properties.

Plum Pudding Model

An early model of atomic structure in which atoms were thought to consist of a sphere of positive charge with small negative charges distributed within.

Electron Shell Model

The current understanding that atoms consist of a small, dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons in shells.

Mass Number (A)

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Atomic Number (Z)

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

Relative Atomic Mass (Ar)

The mean mass of an atom of an element, divided by one twelfth of the mean mass of the carbon-12 isotope.

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but different numbers of neutrons and mass numbers.

Ions

Charged particles formed when an atom loses or gains electrons.

Mass Spectrometry

An analytical technique used to identify different isotopes and determine relative atomic masses.

Ionisation

The process where a sample is vaporised and ionized to create charged particles for mass spectrometry.

Electron Configuration

The arrangement of electrons in an atom's orbitals, showing the energy levels and orbitals occupied.

Ionisation Energy

The minimum energy required to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of atoms in a gaseous state.

Exception to Electron Configuration Rules

Situations where electron spins are unpaired, requiring a different electron arrangement for stability.