Academic Chemistry: Atomic Structure, Periodic Table, and Electron Configuration

Vocabulary flashcards covering atomic structure, isotopes, periodic table trends and groups, and electron configuration concepts from Unit 2.

Proton

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a charge of $+1$ and a relative mass of $1\text{ amu}$ that accounts for much of the mass and holds the electrons near the nucleus.

Neutron

A subatomic particle located in the nucleus with a charge of $0$ and a relative mass of $1\text{ amu}$ that accounts for much of the mass and acts as glue holding the nucleus together.

Electron

A subatomic particle located in the electron cloud with a relative mass of $0\text{ amu}$ that drives the chemical reactivity of an atom.

Mass Number

The total integer sum of protons and neutrons in a specific atomic nucleus ($\text{mass number} = \text{protons} + \text{neutrons}$).

Atomic Mass

The weighted average mass of the naturally occurring isotopes of an element.

Protium

The isotope of hydrogen containing $1$ proton and $0$ neutrons.

Deuterium

The isotope of hydrogen containing $1$ proton and $1$ neutron.

Tritium

The isotope of hydrogen containing $1$ proton and $2$ neutrons.

Ion

An atom that possesses a net electric charge because its number of electrons is not equal to its number of protons.

Neutral Atom

An atom with a net charge of zero, where the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.

Complete Chemical Symbol

A standard notation displaying the chemical symbol with the mass number on the top left, atomic number on the bottom left, and net charge on the top right.

Group (Family)

A vertical column on the periodic table containing elements with similar chemical properties.

Period

A horizontal row of elements on the periodic table.

Ductile

The physical ability of a material to be drawn or stretched into a thin wire.

Malleable

The physical ability of a material to be hammered or pressed into permanent shapes without shattering.

Alkali Metals

The elements belonging to Group $1$ of the periodic table, known as the most reactive metals, which react violently with water.

Alkaline Earth Metals

The metallic elements located in Group $2$ of the periodic table.

Transition Metals

The metallic elements located in Groups $3$ through $12$ of the periodic table.

Halogens

The highly reactive elements found in Group $17$ of the periodic table, characterized as the most reactive nonmetals.

Noble Gases

The elements in Group $18$ of the periodic table that are very unreactive.

Metalloid

An element with properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals, often acting as a semiconductor such as silicon.

Principal Energy Level

The main shell that electrons occupy, represented by the leading whole number in an orbital expression such as $4$ in $4p^3$.

Sublevel

An energy division within a principal energy level designated by a letter, such as the $p$ in $4p^3$.

Valence Electrons

The electrons located in the outermost energy level of an atom.