Periodic Trends

Coulombic Attraction

The attraction towards the nucleus that EACH electron feels.This attractive force is caused by the protons.

Shielding

It is the blocking of the coulombic attraction felt by the outer electrons. This blocking effect is caused by completed energy levels (core electrons)

Zeff Effective Nuclear Charge

It is the net force of attraction towards the nucleus that EACH electron feels. The net force includes the Coulombic attraction AND the Shielding effect.

Atomic radius

Radius of an atom is found by measuring the distance between the nuclei of two touching atoms, and then halving that distance

Electronegativity

The tendency of an atom to attract a shared pair of electrons towards its nucleus

Ionization Energy

Energy required to remove the outermost electrons from an atom / ion is the gaseous state

Electron Affinity

Energy released when an atom / ion gains an electron

Ionic Radius

The distance between the nucleus of an ion and its valence electrons.

Period

The horizontal rows on a periodic table

Family / group

The vertical columns on the periodic table, similar chemical properties

Core Electrons

Electrons not involved in bonding (not in outermost energy level)

Valence Electrons

Electrons used for bonding, typically “s” and “p” electrons (in outermost energy level)

Electron Configuration

A method of identifying the probable locations of electrons in an atom or ion. Core electrons vs valence electrons

Orbital Configuration

The arrangement of electrons within an atom/ion, describing how electrons are distributed among different energy levels, sub-levels and individual orbitals around the nucleus

Noble Gas Configuration

An electron configuration that is represented by the largest noble gas and the remaining electrons

Principle Energy Level

Designated by the letter n. As the value of n increases, the electrons will be found further from the nucleus

Interstitial alloy

Alloy of different size metallic/metalloid atoms; one atom fits between the others

Substitutional alloy

Some of the host metal atoms are replaced by other metal atoms of smaller sizes

Malleable

Capable of being shaped

Ductile

A term used to describe a material that can be pulled out into a long wire