Origin of Elements, Atomic Theory, and Physical Chemistry Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering big bang and stellar nucleosynthesis, nuclear reactions, historical atomic models, chemical kinetics, intermolecular forces, and ancient Greek views of motion based on the lecture text.

Abbe Georges Edouard Lemaître

Belgian astrophysicist and priest who pioneered the big bang model, proposing that the universe emerged from a state of enormous density and energy and is constantly expanding and cooling.

Fred Hoyle

British astronomer who coined the term "big bang" in 1949.

Hubble's Law

Observational law formulated by Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason stating that galaxies move away relative to the Milky Way at a rate proportional to distance.

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)

Electromagnetic afterglow radiation filling the universe at an average temperature of $2.7\,\text{K}$, predicted by George Gamow, Robert Herman, and Ralph Alpher, and confirmed by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson in 1964.

Primordial Nucleosynthesis

The creation of light element nuclei—including protium, deuterium, helium-3, helium-4, and lithium-7—shortly after the big bang through proton and neutron collisions.

Stellar Nucleosynthesis

The synthesis of heavy elements within stars through nuclear fusion and neutron capture processes.

Triple Alpha Process

The net helium-burning fusion reaction $3\,^{4}_{2}\text{He} \rightarrow \,^{12}_{6}\text{C} + \text{energy}$, in which three alpha particles fuse to produce carbon-12.

Binding Energy

The energy needed to break down a nucleus into its constituent nucleons (protons and neutrons); it peaks at iron-56 ($^{56}\text{Fe}$), making it the most stable nucleus.

s-process

Slow neutron capture process inside stars prior to explosion, where beta decay occurs between neutron additions to form stable isotopes up to lead.

r-process

Rapid neutron capture process occurring during supernova explosions, where rapid neutron addition precedes beta decay, yielding heavy elements beyond lead.

Atomism

Philosophy introduced by Leucippus and Democritus asserting that all matter is composed of solid, indestructible, and indivisible particles called atoms separated by empty space (the void).

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

A vacuum-sealed tube containing cathode and anode electrodes used by J.J. Thomson to study streams of negatively charged particles (electrons).

Plum Pudding Model

Atomic model proposed by J.J. Thomson in 1911 depicting negatively charged electrons embedded within a uniform sphere of positive charge.

Canal Rays

Streams of positive gaseous ions observed by Eugen Goldstein traveling from anode to cathode through holes in a perforated cathode.

Hydrogen Bonding

Strong intermolecular attraction between polar molecules in which hydrogen is directly bonded to fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen.

London Dispersion Forces

Weak, temporary intermolecular attractions present in all atoms and molecules caused by momentary fluctuations in electron distribution.

Collision Theory

Chemical theory formulated by Max Trautz and William Lewis stating that reaction rates depend on the frequency of effective collisions between particles possessing correct orientation and sufficient energy.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy barrier that colliding reactant particles must possess to initiate a chemical reaction.

Limiting Reactant

The reactant that is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction, placing a upper limit on the maximum theoretical yield of products.

Surfactant

A surface-active compound containing a polar head and nonpolar tail that lowers the surface tension of water to improve wetting and cleansing action.

Natural Motion

Aristotelian terrestrial motion where an object moves toward its natural place according to its dominant elemental composition (earth, water, air, or fire).

Violent Motion

Aristotelian terrestrial motion produced by the action of an external applied force.

Transuranium Elements

Synthetic elements with atomic numbers greater than 92 ($Z > 92$), produced artificially in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators.