Chapter 1 video Introduction to General Chemistry

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in atomic structure and general chemistry topics discussed in lecture.

Atomic Structure

The way atoms are organized based on the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons they contain.

Subatomic Particles

Particles that compose an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle located in the nucleus of an atom, with a mass of approximately 1 AMU.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom, with a mass of about one two-thousandth of a proton.

Neutron

A neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, with a mass of approximately 1 AMU.

Atomic Number

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

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.

Atomic Mass

The mass of a specific isotope of an element.

Atomic Weight

The average mass of an element's isotopes, typically found on the periodic table.

Planck's Constant

A physical constant that relates the energy of a photon to its frequency, represented by 'h'.

Emission Spectra

The spectrum of light emitted by an atom when electrons transition between energy levels.

Quantum Numbers

A set of four numbers used to describe the unique quantum state of an electron in an atom.

Principal Quantum Number (n)

Indicates the main energy level occupied by an electron in an atom.

Azimuthal Quantum Number (l)

Describes the shape of the orbital that an electron occupies.

Magnetic Quantum Number (m_l)

Specifies the orientation of an orbital in space.

Spin Quantum Number (m_s)

Indicates the spin direction of an electron within an orbital.

Hund's Rule

States that electrons will fill degenerate orbitals singly before pairing up.

Ionization Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom.