Rutherford's Atomic Model and Periodic Table Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary from the concepts of atomic structure and the periodic table as outlined in the revision notes.

Atom

Smallest building blocks of matter; contains protons, electrons, and neutrons.

Proton

Positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

Particle with no charge found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

Negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus in energy levels.

Valence Shell

The outermost shell of an atom that can hold electrons and determine chemical properties.

Atomic Number

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

Mass Number

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom.

Chemical Element

A substance that is made up of only one type of atom.

Cation

Positively charged ion formed by losing electrons.

Anion

Negatively charged ion formed by gaining electrons.

Ionic Bond

The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Chemical Reaction

A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.

Reactants

Substances that undergo a chemical change in a reaction.

Products

Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Acid

A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) in water.

Base

A substance that releases hydroxide ions (OH-) in water.

pH Scale

A scale to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

Electrons in Valence Shell

These determine the group number of an element on the periodic table.

Electron Configuration

The distribution of electrons in an atom's energy levels.

Periodic Table

A tabular arrangement of elements organized by increasing atomic number.