Chemistry Fundamentals and Atomic Theory Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary review flashcards covering atomic structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, and quantum mechanics from the lecture transcript.

Valence Electrons

The electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom, whose behavior governs the majority of chemical interactions.

Alkali Metals

The group of elements located in the first column of the periodic table (excluding hydrogen) that possess $1$ valence electron and are soft, shiny metals.

Isotopes

Variations of the same element that contain differing numbers of neutrons in their nucleus, most of which are unstable and release ionizing radiation.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom has fewer electrons than protons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom has more electrons than protons.

Isomers

Molecules that possess the exact same molecular formula but have different structural arrangements.

Lewis Dot Structure

A visual representation of an atom or molecule that depicts valence electrons and chemical bonds using dots and lines.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when atoms share electrons in order to reach a lower potential energy state with a full outer shell.

Electronegativity

The measure of the strength with which an atom's positively charged nucleus attracts the electrons of another atom.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when the difference in electronegativity between two atoms is greater than approximately $1.7$, resulting in electron transfer that produces a cation and an anion.

Electric Dipole

A system or molecule containing two opposite poles of electric charge.

Temperature

The measurement of the average kinetic energy of the particles within a system, reflecting how much and how fast they move.

Plasma

A state of matter consisting of ionized gas that exists under conditions of extremely high temperature or high electric potential.

Solution

A homogeneous mixture wherein substances blend evenly and exhibit a uniform composition throughout, such as salt dissolved in water.

pH

A logarithmic scale measuring acidity, mathematically defined as the negative log of hydronium ion concentration ($-\log[H_3O^+]$).

Pauli Principle

The quantum mechanical rule stating that no two electrons in an atom can have the exact same set of four quantum numbers.