Introduction to Atoms and Chemical Bonding

These flashcards cover the fundamental vocabulary related to atoms and chemical bonding.

Atom

The basic unit of matter, made of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Molecule

A group of two or more atoms bonded together.

Chemical Bonding

The process of atoms donating, accepting, or sharing electrons.

Nucleus

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

Proton

A subatomic particle with a positive charge found in the nucleus.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge found in the nucleus.

Electron

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

Valence Shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom.

Atomic Mass Unit

A unit of mass used to express the masses of atoms, equal to one proton or neutron.

Isotope

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

Atomic Number

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

Mass Number

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

Element

A pure substance made up of only one type of atom.

Chemical Compound

A substance formed when two or more elements are chemically bonded together.

Ionic Bond

A type of chemical bond formed when one atom donates electrons to another, creating charged ions.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share pairs of electrons.

Subscript

A number in a chemical formula that indicates the number of atoms of an element in a compound.

Electron Cloud

The fuzzy region around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.

Salts

Ionic compounds formed from the reaction of acids and bases.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds that form between molecules due to the attraction of polar regions.