Fundamental Particles and Atomic Structure

A collection of 50 question and answer flashcards summarizing key concepts in atomic structure, fundamental particles, and mass spectrometry.

What is the Plum Pudding Model of atomic structure?

It was thought that atoms consisted of a sphere of positive charge with small negative charges distributed evenly within it.

What did the Rutherford scattering experiment in 1911 reveal?

It revealed that atoms have a small, dense central nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons in electron shells.

What are protons and neutrons?

Protons are positively charged particles, and neutrons are neutral particles that make up the nucleus of an atom.

What is the relative charge of a proton?

+1

What is the relative mass of an electron compared to a proton?

1/1840 of a proton's mass.

How is the maximum number of orbiting electrons in a shell calculated?

Using the formula 2(n^2), where n is the number of the shell.

What is the maximum number of electrons in the second shell?

8 electrons.

2(2²)= 8

What constitutes the mass number of an atom?

The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

What is the atomic number of an atom?

The number of protons in an atom.

What does relative atomic mass (Ar) take into account?

It considers the mean mass of an atom divided by one twelfth of the mean mass of a carbon-12 atom, including different isotopes' relative abundances.

What are isotopes?

Atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but different numbers of neutrons.

How do isotopes react chemically?

They react in the same way because their proton numbers and electron configurations are the same.

What happens to an atom when it gains or loses electrons?

It becomes an ion and has an overall charge.

What is mass spectrometry?

An analytical technique used to identify isotopes and determine the relative atomic mass of an element.

What is the purpose of the ionization step in mass spectrometry?

To vaporize a sample and create positively charged ions by removing electrons.

What happens to ions during the acceleration phase of mass spectrometry?

Positively charged ions are accelerated towards a negatively charged detection plate.

How does ion drift occur in mass spectrometry?

Ions are deflected by a magnetic field, following a curved path based on their charge and mass.

What produces a flow of charge in the detection phase of mass spectrometry?

When positive ions hit the negatively charged detection plate and gain an electron.

What is the relationship between ion abundance and current in mass spectrometry?

Greater ion abundance results in a greater current produced.

How is the relative atomic mass calculated using spectra from mass spectrometry?

By combining current values and flight times of isotopes.

What characteristic pattern do chlorine spectra from mass spectrometry show?

A 3:1 ratio for Cl+ ions and a 3:6:9 ratio for Cl2+ ions.

What does electron configuration indicate?

The distribution of electrons among the various orbitals of an atom.

What are the different types of electron orbitals?

s, p, d, and f orbitals.

How many electrons can an s-orbital hold?

2 electrons.

What is the order in which orbitals are filled?

From lowest to highest energy—s, p, d, f.

What is represented by the electron configuration Na = 1s22s22p63s1?

The distribution of 11 electrons in sodium across its orbitals.

What do paired electrons in an orbital indicate?

Electrons must have opposite spins to achieve maximum stability.

What happens when electron spins are unpaired?

It can lead to instability and repulsion between electrons.

What is ionization energy?

The minimum energy required to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of atoms in the gaseous state.

How does ionization energy change along a period in the periodic table?

It increases due to a decreasing atomic radius and greater electrostatic forces of attraction.

How does ionization energy change down a group in the periodic table?

It decreases due to an increasing atomic radius and shielding effects.

What indicates a change in energy level when plotting successive ionization energies?

A sudden large increase in energy required to remove an electron.

Why is the first ionization energy of aluminum lower than expected?

Due to a single pair of electrons with opposite spin causing natural repulsion.

Describe the relationship between the electron configuration of electrons and their stability.

Unstable configurations may rearrange to achieve a more stable arrangement.

What does the symbol A represent in the context of atomic structure?

The mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons.

What does the symbol Z represent?

The atomic number, which is the number of protons in an atom.

What is the relationship between neutrons and mass number in isotopes?

Isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.

What charge do ions possess?

Ions possess an overall charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.

What makes mass spectrometry useful for analyzing isotopes?

It can identify different isotopes and their relative abundances.

How does the mass-to-charge ratio affect ion paths in mass spectrometry?

It determines the radius of their curved paths in a magnetic field.

What happens when a 2+ charged ion is produced during ionization?

It is affected more by the magnetic field, resulting in a smaller radius path.