Atomic Structure and Bonding

Flashcards covering key terminology and concepts in atomic structure and bonding.

Atom

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

Molecule

A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.

Ion

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

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more elements chemically bond together.

Mixture

A material made up of two or more different substances which are not chemically bonded.

Solvent

The substance in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture formed when a solute is dissolved in a solvent.

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature and pressure.

Concentration

The amount of solute present in a given volume of solution.

Filtration

A method of separating solids from liquids by passing the mixture through a filter.

Crystallisation

A separation technique that forms solid crystals from a solution.

Distillation

A separation process that uses differences in boiling points to separate mixtures.

Paper chromatography

A technique used to separate and identify mixtures based on their movement through a medium.

Proton

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, with a positive charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, with no charge.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Noble gas electronic structure

The electron configuration of noble gases, which are stable and have full outer electron shells.

Electron configuration

The distribution of electrons among the orbitals of an atom.

Atomic number

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

Mass number

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

Periodic Table

A tabular arrangement of all chemical elements, organized by atomic number.

Ionic bond

A type of chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Lattice structure

The regular arrangement of ions in a crystal structure, as seen in ionic compounds.

Covalent bond

A type of chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

Dot-and-cross diagrams

Visual representations of electron sharing in covalent bonds, showing the electrons from each atom.

Polyatomic ion

An ion that consists of two or more atoms bonded together, that behaves as a single unit.