Subatomic Particles and Atomic Models

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts and facts about subatomic particles and atomic models.

What is a physical model in the context of atomic models?

A scale model of something either too big or small to study in its regular size.

What is the plum pudding model?

An atomic model proposed by J.J. Thompson where negative electrons are distributed within a positively charged 'pudding'.

What conclusion did Rutherford reach about atomic structure?

Atoms must be mostly empty space with a massive, positively charged nucleus.

What are nucleons?

Protons and neutrons found in the nucleus of an atom.

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element that have different mass numbers.

What is the charge of an electron?

-1.

How does mass compare between protons, neutrons, and electrons?

Protons and neutrons weigh about the same and are approximately 2000 times heavier than electrons.

Define atomic mass unit (amu).

A unit defined as 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

What is ionization energy?

The energy needed to remove one electron from an atom.

How does effective nuclear charge change across a period in the periodic table?

It increases from left to right, leading to smaller atomic size.

How are energies related to wavelengths in light?

Shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy, while longer wavelengths correspond to lower energy.

What instrument is used to observe color components of light?

A spectroscope.

What distinguishes a neutral atom?

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons.

What happens when an electron absorbs energy?

It gains potential energy and moves to a higher orbit.

What does it mean for orbitals to be quantized?

Electrons can only occupy certain discrete energy levels.

What are the four categories of atomic orbitals?

s, p, d, f orbitals.

What is the modern view of atomic orbitals?

Electrons do not orbit like planets; instead, they exist in probability clouds.

What is the relationship between the number of protons and the identity of an element?

The number of protons defines what element it is.

What do isotopes of an element vary by?

The number of neutrons.

What occurs to the atomic size as you go down a group in the periodic table?

Atomic size increases.

What is a physical model in the context of atomic models?

A scale model of something either too big or small to study in its regular size.

What is the plum pudding model?

An atomic model proposed by J.J. Thompson where negative electrons are distributed within a positively charged 'pudding'.

What conclusion did Rutherford reach about atomic structure?

Atoms must be mostly empty space with a massive, positively charged nucleus.

What are nucleons?

Protons and neutrons found in the nucleus of an atom.

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element that have different mass numbers.

What is the charge of an electron?

-1.

How does mass compare between protons, neutrons, and electrons?

Protons and neutrons weigh about the same and are approximately 2000 times heavier than electrons.

Define atomic mass unit (amu).

A unit defined as 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

What is ionization energy?

The energy needed to remove one electron from an atom.

How does effective nuclear charge change across a period in the periodic table?

It increases from left to right, leading to smaller atomic size.

How are energies related to wavelengths in light?

Shorter wavelengths correspond to higher energy, while longer wavelengths correspond to lower energy.

What instrument is used to observe color components of light?

A spectroscope.

What distinguishes a neutral atom?

A neutral atom has an equal number of protons and electrons.

What happens when an electron absorbs energy?

It gains potential energy and moves to a higher orbit.

What does it mean for orbitals to be quantized?

Electrons can only occupy certain discrete energy levels.

What are the four categories of atomic orbitals?

s, p, d, f orbitals.

What is the modern view of atomic orbitals?

Electrons do not orbit like planets; instead, they exist in probability clouds.

What is the relationship between the number of protons and the identity of an element?

The number of protons defines what element it is.

What do isotopes of an element vary by?

The number of neutrons.

What occurs to the atomic size as you go down a group in the periodic table?

Atomic size increases.

What experiment led to Rutherford's conclusion about the atomic structure?

The Gold Foil experiment, where alpha particles were shot at a thin gold foil.

What is the atomic number of an element?

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

What is the charge of a proton?

+1.

What is the charge of a neutron?

0 (neutral).

What occurs to the atomic size as you move from left to right across a period in the periodic table?

Atomic size decreases due to increased effective nuclear charge pulling electrons closer to the nucleus.