Chem I: 1-6 Flashcards
(459 cards)
atomic number
(Z) number of protons
mass number
- (A) total number of protons and neutrons in nucleus
- Z+N
- aka atomic mass
isotopes
atoms that share an atomic number but have different mass numbers (same number of protons, diff number of neurons)
valence electrons
- electrons that are farthest from nucleus
- electrons that have the greatest amount of potential energy (bc they are held less tightly by the nucleus)
cation
positively charged aton
anion
negatively charged atom
isotopes are referred to…
by the name of the element followed by the mass number
atomic weight
- weighted average of the naturally occurring isotopes
- mass of one mole of the element in grams
binding energy
- energy required to disassemble an atom into its constituents
- allows nucleons to bind together in nucleus
mass defect
- the difference between the mass of an atom and the sum of the masses of its protons, neutrons, and electrons
- result of matter that has been converted to energy
number of protons and electrons in neutral atom
of protons = # of electrons
Einstein’s equation that relates energy and mass (+ units)
E = mc^2 converts mass and energy
E in J
m in kg > mass defect
c in m/s
E in E = mc^2
energy released when the nucleus of an atom is formed (nuclear binding energy) and energy needed to break nucleus apart
nuclear binding energy
- the energy released when a nucleus is formed from nucleons
- energy required to disassemble an atom into its constituents
nucleons
protons and neutrons in the nucleus
electrostatic force
force between electrically charged objects (like charges repel and opposite charges attract each other).
nuclear strong force
- force that overcomes repulsion of the protons in nucleus to hold the nucleus together
- only acts over extremely short distances
N/Z ratio when Z < 20
N/Z = 1 –> stable nucleus
N/Z ratio when Z > 20
N/Z = 1.5 –> stable nucleus
N/Z ratio when Z > 83
p much all nuclei are unstable
alpha decay
ejection of an alpha particle (He) from the nucleus of an atom

beta decay
- ejection of a beta particle (electron) from the nucleus of an atom
- neutron converted to proton and electron

gamma decay
- release of gamma rays (no charge and no mass) from a nucleus
- energy is released in form of radiation

positron emission aka positive beta decay
a proton decays and “creates” a neutron













































































































































































