Environmental Science and Technology - Chemistry Overview

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts in the Environmental Science and Technology course focusing on Chemistry.

Model

A representation of a system or its processes, used in science to explain or predict outcomes.

Subatomic Particles

Particles that are smaller than atoms, including electrons, protons, and neutrons.

Element

A pure substance made of only one type of atom, characterized by its atomic number.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, determining the element's identity.

Atomic Mass

The weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, measured in atomic mass units (amu).

Nucleus

The central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.

Electron Shells

Energy levels around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are likely to be found.

Rutherford's Experiment

An experiment that demonstrated the existence of a dense, positively charged nucleus within an atom.

Dalton's Atomic Model

Early atomic theory stating that matter is made up of indivisible particles called atoms, with all atoms of a single element being identical.