Chemistry Chapter: Atomic Structure and Bonding

Study Notes

Atomic Structure

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter
Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons
Protons have a positive charge, neutrons are neutral, and electrons have a negative charge
The number of protons defines the element
Atomic number = number of protons
Atomic mass = number of protons + number of neutrons
Electrons occupy different energy levels (shells) around the nucleus
Electron configuration describes the arrangement of electrons in different energy levels and sublevels
Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell, and they are involved in chemical bonding

Bonding

Chemical bonds hold atoms together in compounds
Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, forming ions (positively and negatively charged) which attract each other
Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms
Metallic bonds involve the sharing of electrons among a lattice of metal atoms
Intermolecular forces are relatively weak forces between molecules, including hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole forces, and London dispersion forces.
Hydrogen bonding is a strong dipole-dipole interaction, often occurring between molecules with hydrogen bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen.

Periodic Table

The periodic table organizes elements based on their atomic number and recurring chemical properties
Elements in the same group (vertical column) have similar chemical properties
Elements in the same period (horizontal row) have increasing atomic number and gradual changes in properties
Metals are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, malleable and ductile, and have low ionization energies
Nonmetals are generally poor conductors of heat and electricity, brittle, and have high ionization energies
Metalloids have properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals

States of Matter

Matter exists in three fundamental states: solid, liquid, and gas
Solids are characterized by fixed shape and volume, with particles tightly packed and vibrating in fixed positions
Liquids have a fixed volume but take the shape of their container, with particles close together but able to move past each other
Gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume, with particles widely dispersed and moving randomly

Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms to form new substances
Reactants are the substances that undergo changes
Products are the new substances formed
Chemical equations show the reactants and products, and the relative amounts of each substance involved
Balanced chemical equations have equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation
Chemical reactions can be exothermic (releasing heat) or endothermic (absorbing heat)

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the quantitative study of reactants and products in chemical reactions
Mole ratios from balanced equations allow calculations of quantities of reactants and products involved in a reaction
Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance
Mass-mass calculations involve conversion between mass and moles using molar mass and mole ratios
Mass-volume calculations involve conversions between mass and volume of a gas (if conditions of pressure and temperature are known)

Acids and Bases

Acids release hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solutions
Bases release hydroxide ions (OH−) in aqueous solutions
pH is a measure of the concentration of H+ ions in a solution
Strong acids and bases completely dissociate in water
Weak acids and bases only partially dissociate
Neutralization reactions involve the reaction of an acid and a base to form a salt and water

Solutions

Solutions are homogeneous mixtures of two or more substances
Solutes are the substances dissolved
Solvents are the substances that dissolve the solutes
Concentration describes the amount of solute in a given volume of solution (e.g., molarity, molality)
Factors affecting solubility include temperature, pressure, and nature of solute and solvent.

Description

Explore the fundamentals of atomic structure and the types of chemical bonding in this quiz. Understand the roles of protons, neutrons, and electrons, as well as how atoms combine to form compounds through ionic, covalent, and metallic bonds. Test your knowledge and reinforce your understanding of key concepts in chemistry.