A.I.C.E. Marine Science - Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding

Element

a substance that cannot be chemically broken down into a simpler substance

Compound

a substance containing two or more elements chemically bonded together

Molecule

a group of atoms covalently bonded together

Atom

the smallest particle an element can be divided into and still be the same substance

Kinetic Particle Theory

the theory of how particles (such as atoms and molecules) move in relation to each other and the amount of energy within the system.

Water Vapour

gaseous phase/ state of water; produced when liquid water evaporates or boils

Proton

a positively charged subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

Neutron

a neutrally charged subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

Electron

a negatively charged subatomic particle contained within the nucleus of an atom

Nucleus

the positively charged central core of an atom that is made of protons and neutrons

Shells

each a set of orbitals around the nucleus of an atom that can Ben occupied by electrons

Atomic Number

the number of protons contained in the nucleus of an atom

Bond

a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a substance

Emergent Properties

characteristics that are present within a compound or molecule of two or more different elements that those elements do not posses on their own

Covalent Bond

chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms

Ionic Bond

chemical bond that involves the attraction between two oppositely charged ions

Hydrogen Bond

a weak bond between two molecules due to the electrostatic attraction between a hydrogen atom in one molecule and an atom of oxygen, nitrogen or fluorine in the other molecule

Ion

an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons, creating an electrical charge

Polar

when opposite sides of a molecule have contrasting (partial) electrical charges

Solvent

a substance which is able to dissolve other substances

Density

a measure of the mass of a defined volume of water

Specific Heat Capacity

the heat required to raise the temperature of the unit of mass given from a substance by one degree Celsius (1 °C)