Atoms, Chemical Bonding, and Molecules

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts related to atoms, chemical bonding, and molecules, based on the specified learning standards.

Atom

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

Proton

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, with a positive charge.

Neutron

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom, with no charge.

Electron

A subatomic particle with a negative charge, found in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus.

Atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Periodic table

A tabular arrangement of chemical elements organized by increasing atomic number.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Ionic bond

A chemical bond formed through the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.

Molecule

A group of two or more atoms bonded together by covalent bonds.

Compound

A substance formed when two or more different elements are chemically bonded together.

Polar molecule

A molecule with a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other, due to unequal sharing of electrons.

Nonpolar molecule

A molecule that has no net dipole moment, with equal sharing of electrons between atoms.