Structure of the Atom

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the key terms and concepts from the structure of the atom and atomic bonding lecture notes.

Atomic Number

Number of protons in an atom.

Atomic Mass

The mass of one mole of atoms.

Avogadro Constant

The number of atoms in a mole: 6.022 x 10^23.

Valence

Number of electrons in an atom that participate in bonding.

Electronegativity

Relative tendency of an atom to accept an electron and become an anion.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Quantum Numbers

Four numbers that define the energy levels of electrons in an atom.

Metallic Bond

Bond formed by positive atom cores surrounded by a 'sea' of electrons.

Covalent Bond

Bond formed by sharing valence electrons between elements.

Ionic Bond

Bond formed when one atom donates an electron to another, creating oppositely charged ions.

Van der Waals Bonds

Weak bonds formed between polarized molecules.

Binding Energy

Energy associated with the formation of a bond between atoms.

Mixed Bonding

Materials that have a mixture of bonding types.

Primary Bonds

Stronger bonds including metallic, covalent, and ionic.

Secondary Bonds

Weaker bonds such as Van der Waals bonds.

Ductility

Ability of a material to deform under tensile stress.

Melting Point (Tm)

Temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid.

Thermal Expansion Coefficient (α)

Measure of how much a material expands per unit temperature increase.