Atom Lab

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element.

Element

A kind of matter that consists exclusively of one kind of atom.

Molecule

A larger unit formed by the bonding of two or more atoms.

Compound

Matter composed solely of molecules of one kind.

Proton

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

Neutron

An uncharged particle located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that moves around the nucleus in specific orbitals.

Nucleus

The central area of an atom where protons and neutrons are located.

Ionic Bond

A bond formed when atoms transfer electrons, resulting in positively and negatively charged ions.

Covalent Bond

A bond formed when two or more atoms share electrons.

pH Scale

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution based on the concentration of hydrogen ions.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in solution.

Base

A substance that removes hydrogen ions from a solution.

Chemical Reaction

A process where atoms or molecules react to form new substances by breaking and forming chemical bonds.

Chemical Equation

A symbolic representation of a chemical reaction showing reactants and products.

Mass number

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic number

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

Ion

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Periodic Table

A chart that organizes the elements based on increasing atomic number and similar chemical properties.