Chemistry Chapter 7 Lesson 2 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the three parts to any atom?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

How do the masses of protons, neutrons, and electrons compare?

Protons and neutrons are equal in mass (sum = 1 amu). Electrons are much smaller.

Where are protons, neutrons, and electrons located in an atom?

Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus, electrons are in orbitals of different energy levels.

What is the atomic number?

The number of protons in the atom of an element. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two numbers used to identify an element?

Atomic number and atomic mass number. Signup and view all the answers

Which two particles are responsible for the mass of an atom and which two particles are responsible for the charge of an atom?

Mass is due to protons and neutrons; charge is determined by the number of valence electrons and protons. Signup and view all the answers

What is an isotope?

Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mass number?

The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom. Signup and view all the answers

What is the average atomic mass?

The average mass of the element's isotopes, weighted according to the abundance of each isotope. Signup and view all the answers

What details can be found by looking at the periodic table?

Atomic number, average atomic mass, number of protons, number of neutrons, and number of electrons. Signup and view all the answers

What is a radioactive atom?

An atom that spontaneously emits radiation. Signup and view all the answers

What is nuclear decay?

A process that occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus changes into another stable nucleus by emitting radiation. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during alpha decay?

The atomic number decreases by two when an alpha particle is released. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during beta decay?

When a beta particle is released, the atomic number increases by one because it has gained a proton. Signup and view all the answers

What is gamma decay?

A process that does not contain particles, it only contains energy, and does not change one element into another. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ion?

An atom that is no longer neutral because it has gained or lost electrons. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Atomic Structure

Atoms consist of three primary particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Protons and neutrons have equal mass, approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu), while electrons are significantly lighter.

Location of Particles

Protons and neutrons reside in the atom's nucleus.
Electrons occupy orbitals and exist in various energy levels around the nucleus.

Identification of Elements

Each element is identified by two key numbers: atomic number (number of protons) and atomic mass number (sum of protons and neutrons).

Mass and Charge of Atoms

Mass number reflects the total count of protons and neutrons in an atom.
An atom's charge depends on the balance between protons (positively charged) and valence electrons (negatively charged).

Isotopes

Isotopes are variations of the same element distinguished by differing numbers of neutrons.

Average Atomic Mass

Average atomic mass is calculated by considering the weighted average of all isotopes of an element based on their relative abundance.

Using the Periodic Table

The periodic table provides key information including atomic number, average atomic mass, and counts of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Radioactivity

A radioactive atom is one that spontaneously emits radiation.
Nuclear decay involves the transformation of an unstable nucleus into a more stable one through radiation emission.

Types of Nuclear Decay

Alpha Decay: The release of an alpha particle reduces the atomic number by two.
Beta Decay: The emission of a beta particle increases the atomic number by one due to the gain of a proton.
Gamma Decay: Involves the release of energy without altering atomic identity; no particles are involved.

Ions

An ion is formed when an atom gains or loses electrons, resulting in a net positive or negative charge.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the structure of atoms with these flashcards. Explore the three parts of an atom: protons, neutrons, and electrons, along with their masses and locations. Ideal for mastering the concepts presented in Chapter 7, Lesson 2.