Atomic Structure and Properties of Subatomic Particles

Practice flashcards covering basic concepts of atomic structure and properties of subatomic particles.

Atom

The simplest unit of an element that possesses the same properties as that element.

Atomic Number

The number of protons in the nucleus of one atom of an element.

Mass Number

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

Relative Atomic Mass (RAM)

The average mass of one atom of an element relative to 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

Isotopes

Atoms which have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Relative Molecular Mass (RMM)

The sum of the relative atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule.

Relative Formula Mass

The sum of the relative atomic masses of all the atoms in a given chemical formula.

Proton

A subatomic particle with a relative charge of +1, located in the nucleus.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a relative charge of -1, located in the orbital.

Neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge (0), located in the nucleus.

Deflection in Electric Fields

The path taken by a particle in an electric field depends on its charge and mass.

Cation

A positively charged ion, formed when the number of protons exceeds the number of electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion, formed when the number of electrons exceeds the number of protons.

Isoelectronic Species

Species that have the same number of electrons.

Isotonic Species

Species that have the same number of neutrons.

Mass Spectrometer

An instrument used to identify the masses of ions by measuring their deflection in a magnetic field.

Dalton's Atomic Theory

A theory that states: all matter is made up of atoms, atoms are indivisible, and all atoms of a given element are identical in mass.

Relative Isotopic Mass (RIM)

The mass of one atom of an isotope of an element relative to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

Relative Atomic Mass (Ar)

The average mass of one atom of an element relative to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.