Chemistry: Atoms and the Periodic Table

Flashcards covering fundamental concepts of atoms, atomic structure, and the periodic table for chemistry.

Atom

The smallest particle of an element that can participate in a chemical reaction.

Nucleus

The center of an atom that contains protons and neutrons.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A particle in the nucleus of atoms that has mass but no charge.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of one atom of an element.

Mass Number

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

Valency

The number of electrons lost, gained, or shared by an atom to achieve stability.

Valency Electron

The outermost electron(s) of an atom.

Ions

Particles that contain different numbers of protons and electrons.

Periodic Table

A list of all the elements arranged according to their atomic number.

Groups

Vertical columns in the periodic table that contain elements with similar chemical properties.

Periods

Horizontal rows in the periodic table indicating the number of electron shells.

Noble Gases

Group 0 elements with full outer electron shells, making them unreactive.

Electronic Configuration

The arrangement of electrons in an atom.

Reactivity

The tendency of an element to undergo a chemical reaction.

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements that are highly reactive.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Group 2 elements that are reactive but less so than alkali metals.

Halogens

Group 7 elements that are very reactive nonmetals.

Transition Metals

Elements that have varying charges and are located in the center of the periodic table.