Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering atomic structure, subatomic particles, isotopes, chemical bonding (ionic, covalent, hydrogen), water properties, and organic functional groups.

What is matter?

Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass, and it is composed of elements.

What is an element?

An element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances and is composed of only one type of atom.

How is an atom defined in relation to an element?

The atom is the smallest piece of matter that retains the characteristics of the element.

What are the three subatomic particles and their respective charges?

Protons have a positive ($+$) charge, neutrons have no charge (neutral), and electrons have a negative ($-$) charge.

What is the mass and location of an electron?

Electrons have a mass of approximately $0$ and are located surrounding the nucleus.

What is the mass and location of protons and neutrons?

Both protons and neutrons have a mass of $1$ and are located in the nucleus.

What are isotopes?

Isotopes are different forms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons.

What is the valence shell and why is it important?

The valence shell is the energy shell farthest from the nucleus; it determines the atom's reactivity and is important for chemical bonding.

How does the number of electron vacancies affect an atom's stability?

Atoms with fewer vacancies are more stable and less reactive, while atoms with more vacancies are less stable and more reactive.

What does the atomic number in the periodic table represent?

The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom of that element.

What is a covalent bond?

A covalent bond forms when a pair of valence electrons is shared by two atoms.

What is electronegativity?

Electronegativity measures an atom's ability to attract electrons.

What is the difference between nonpolar and polar covalent bonds?

Nonpolar covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons equally ( ext{electronegativity difference} < 0.4), while polar covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons unequally ($ext{electronegativity difference of } 0.4 ext{ to } 1.7$).

What causes partial positive ($\delta+$) and partial negative ($\delta-$) charges in a molecule?

Unequal sharing of electrons in a polar covalent bond causes these partial charges.

How is an ionic bond formed?

An ionic bond forms when electrons completely transfer from one atom to another, occurring when the electronegativity difference is very large (>1.7).

What is the difference between a cation and an anion?

A cation is a positively charged ion ($+$), while an anion is a negatively charged ion ($-$).

What is a hydrogen bond?

An interaction where an atom with a partial negative charge attracts a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge; these are weak attractions between adjacent molecules.

Why is water considered a polar molecule?

Because it has polar covalent bonds where electrons are not equally shared between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms.

What are hydrophilic substances?

Substances that are "water-loving," typically polar or ionic materials that dissolve in water.

What does the pH value represent?

The pH is a number from $0$ to $14$ that represents the acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a solution, related to the concentration of Hydrogen ($[H^+]$) and Hydroxide ($[OH^-]$) ions.

What defines organic molecules?

Organic molecules are those that contain carbon ($C$).

What are functional groups?

Functional groups are components of organic molecules involved in chemical reactions that provide each molecule with unique properties.

What are the chemical formula and compound name for the Hydroxyl group?

Formula: $-OH$; Compound Name: Alcohol (names usually end in -ol).

What are the chemical formula and compound name for the Amino group?

Formula: $-NH_2$; Compound Name: Amine.

What is the chemical formula for the Phosphate group?

$$-OPO_3^{2-}$$

What is the chemical formula for the Methyl group?

$$-CH_3$$