Introduction to Chemistry and Atomic Theory

These flashcards cover introductory chemistry concepts, including the properties of carbon forms, atomic structure, and historical atomic models based on the lecture notes.

Diamond

One of the hardest naturally occurring substances in the universe, characterized by a specific way carbon atoms are bonded.

Graphite

A form of carbon that acts as a good conductor of electricity and an industrial lubricant due to how its atoms are bonded.

Chemistry

The study of matter and how matter interacts with itself, including its properties, changes, and interactions.

Estrogen and Testosterone

Biologically active molecules that differ by only four atoms, representing how small chemical changes lead to large changes in biological outcome.

Particles

In the context of chemistry, these are the smallest things dealt with, specifically protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Quarks

Even smaller components that make up protons and neutrons, typically studied within the field of physics.

Baking Soda

Also known as sodium bicarbonate, which has a specific formula including one sodium atom.

Nucleus

The center of an atom made up of protons and neutrons, surrounded by a cloud of electrons.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle with a mass of $1\,amu$, abbreviated as $p$ or $p^+$.

amu

Stands for atomic mass unit, the standard mass used in chemistry to weigh particles.

Neutron

A neutral subatomic particle that has a mass of $1\,amu$.

Electron

A negatively charged particle/wave abbreviated as $e$ or $e^-$; it has a mass so infinitesimally small it is treated as having no mass.

Cathode Rays

Rays observed in a vacuum tube that are deflected by electric and magnetic fields, proving they are made of particles rather than light.

Plum Pudding Model

J.J. Thompson's model of the atom which describes it as a sphere of positive charge with electrons scattered throughout.

Alpha Particles

Positively charged particles used in Rutherford's experiments to probe the structure of the atom.

Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment

An experiment that determined atoms are mostly empty space because most alpha particles passed straight through the foil, while one out of every $20,000$ was deflected by a massive, positive center.