Chemistry Basics

What are the three subatomic particles?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Which subatomic particle determines an element’s identity?

Protons

Which particle has a positive charge?

Proton

Which particle has no charge?

Neutron

Which particle has a negative charge?

Electron

Which two particles are found inside the nucleus?

Protons and neutrons

Which particles contribute almost all of an atom’s mass?

Protons and neutrons

What is the atomic number?

The number of protons

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

What stays the same in isotopes?

Number of protons

What changes in isotopes?

Number of neutrons

What does A represent in isotope notation?

Mass number

What does Z represent in isotope notation?

Atomic number

In isotope notation, how do you calculate neutrons?

A - Z

What formula is used to calculate average atomic mass?

Σ(isotope mass × relative abundance).

What is relative abundance?

The fraction or percentage of atoms that are a particular isotope

What is an ion?

An atom with a net charge

How do ions form?

By gaining or losing electrons

What formula calculates an ion’s charge?

Protons - Electrons

What is cation?

A positively charged ion

What makes an atom positively charged?

When it has lost electrons

What is an anion?

A negatively charged ion

What makes an atom negatively charged?

When it has gained electrons

What is the charge of a neutral atom?

Zero

How is an anion named?

Its name ends in -ide. While a cation’s name stays the same.