Atoms & Elements - Chapter 4

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 4 on Atoms and Elements.

Atom

The smallest identifiable unit of an element, fundamental building block of matter.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances, defined by its number of protons.

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom that has no electrical charge.

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic Number (Z)

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, defining the element.

Ion

A charged particle that forms when an atom loses or gains electrons.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed by losing electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed by gaining electrons.

Isotope

Atoms of an element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Mass Number (A)

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Atomic Mass

The weighted average mass of an element's isotopes based on their natural abundances.

Periodic Table

A tabular arrangement of elements organized by increasing atomic number and similar properties.

Metal

Elements that are good conductors, malleable, and tend to lose electrons during chemical changes.

Nonmetal

Elements that are usually poor conductors, can be gases or solids, and tend to gain electrons.

Metalloid

Elements that exhibit mixed properties of metals and nonmetals, often semiconductors.

Augmentative factor

The fraction of a specific isotope contributing to the atomic mass of an element.

Valence Electrons

Electrons found in the outermost shell of an atom, involved in chemical bonding.

Periodicity

The recurring trends in properties of elements as a function of their atomic numbers.