Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to atomic structure, the periodic table, compounds, and mixtures.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that retains the chemical properties of an element.

Protons

Positively charged particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons

Neutral particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom in electron shells.

Nucleus

The central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons; it has a positive charge and contains almost all the mass of the atom.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained electrons, resulting in an overall charge.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Mass Number

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

Element

A substance made up of atoms that all have the same number of protons in their nucleus.

Isotopes

Different forms of the same element, which have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Relative Atomic Mass

The average mass of an element, taking into account the different masses and abundances of all its isotopes.

Compounds

Substances formed from two or more elements, the atoms of each are in fixed proportions throughout the compound and they're held together by chemical bonds.

Covalent Bonding

A type of chemical bonding where atoms share electrons.

Ionic Bonding

A type of chemical bonding where ions are attracted to each other.

Mixture

Lots of separate things all mixed together, where there is no chemical bond between the different parts.

Chromatography

A method of separating substances in a mixture.