Atomic Structure and Periodic Table Review

Flashcards covering atomic structure, sub-atomic particles, isotopes, electronic configuration, the periodic table, and basic ionic bonding.

Atomic Structure

The structure of the atom divided into two regions: the central nucleus and the surrounding shells or orbits.

Nucleus

The very tiny, extremely dense central part of the atom that contains protons and neutrons and occupies roughly $1/1000\text{th}$ the volume of the atom.

Proton

A sub-atomic particle located in the nucleus with a mass of $1\text{ amu}$ and a charge of $+1$.

Neutron

A sub-atomic particle located in the nucleus with a mass of $1\text{ amu}$ and a charge of $0$.

Electron

A sub-atomic particle located in shells or orbits with a negligible mass of approximately $1/2000\text{ amu}$ and a charge of $-1$.

Atomic mass unit (amu)

A unit of mass equal to $1.66 \times 10^{-27}\text{ kg}$.

Overall electrical neutrality

The state of an atom where the number of protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of electrons in the shells, resulting in no overall charge.

Ions

Charged particles formed when atoms lose or gain electrons.

Cations

Positive ions formed by the loss of one or more electrons.

Anions

Negative ions formed by the gain of one or more electrons.

Atomic number (Z)

The number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom, serving as the atom's unique identity.

Mass number (A)

Also known as the nucleon number, it is the total number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom.

Nuclide notation

A symbolic representation $^A_Z\text{X}^{\text{+/-n}}$ where $\text{X}$ is the symbol, $\text{Z}$ is the atomic number, $\text{A}$ is the mass number, and $\text{+/-n}$ is the charge.

Isotopes

Atoms of an element that have the same number of protons (atomic number) but a different number of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.

Protium

The isotope of Hydrogen with a mass number of $1$ ($^1_1\text{H}$), containing $1$ proton and $0$ neutrons.

Deuterium

The isotope of Hydrogen with a mass number of $2$ ($^2_1\text{H}$), containing $1$ proton and $1$ neutron.

Tritium

The isotope of Hydrogen with a mass number of $3$ ($^3_1\text{H}$), containing $1$ proton and $2$ neutrons.

Electronic Configuration

The arrangement of electrons in the shells or orbits of an atom.

K, L, M, N

The names assigned to shells starting from the innermost shell closest to the nucleus, as named by Charles G. Barkla.

$$2n^2$$

The formula used to determine the maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in a shell, where $n$ is the shell number.

Stable octet

The preference for a shell, especially the outermost shell, to contain $8$ electrons to provide the atom with greater stability.

Groups

Vertical columns in the periodic table where the group number indicates the number of electrons in the outermost (valence) shell.

Periods

Horizontal rows in the periodic table where the period number indicates the total number of shells present in an atom.

Valence shell

The outermost shell of an atom.

Noble gases

Unreactive (inert) gases in group VIII (or group 0) that are highly stable because they have a complete valence shell or stable octet.

Ionic Bonding

A process where a metal loses electrons to form a cation and a non-metal gains those electrons to form an anion to achieve stability.