Electrons of an Atom Vocabulary Test Flashcards
(23 cards)
Amplitude
a measurement of the amount of energy transferred by a wave
Atomic Emission Spectrum
the pattern of lines formed when light passes through a prism to separate it into the different frequencies of light it contains
Atomic Orbital
the places surrounding the nucleus of an atom where the electrons are most likely to be at any given time
Aufbau Principle
electrons fill lower-energy atomic orbitals before filling higher-energy ones
De Broglies Equation
λ=hmv to solve for the wavelength of the moving electron
Electromagnetic Radiation
a form of energy that propagates as both electrical and magnetic waves traveling in packets of energy called photons
Electron Configuration
is the distribution of electrons of an atom or molecule in atomic or molecular orbitals
Energy Level
fixed distances from the nucleus of an atom where electrons may be found
Frequency
the number of waves that pass a given point in one second
Ground State
the lowest allowed energy state of an atom, molecule, or ion
Heisenberg uncertainty principle
we cannot know both the position and speed of a particle, such as a photon or electron, with perfect accuracy
Hertz (Hz)
the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second
Hund’s rule
every orbital in a subshell is singly occupied with one electron before any one orbital is doubly occupied, and all electrons in singly occupied orbitals have the same spin
Pauli exclusion principle
no two electrons in the same atom can have identical values for all four of their quantum numbers
Photoelectric effect
When light shines on a metal, electrons can be ejected from the surface of the metal
Photon
a tiny particle that comprises waves of electromagnetic radiation
Planck’s Constant (h)
fundamental physical constant characteristic of the mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics, which describes the behaviour of particles and waves on the atomic scale, including the particle aspect of light
Quantum
a single packet of matter or energy
Quantum mechanical model
describe the possibility of placing electrons within an atom by describing the main energy level, orbital (arbitrary level), and spin
Spectrometer
to measure wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (light) that has interacted with a sample
Spectroscopy
the study of the absorption and emission of light and other radiation by matter
Spectrum
the range of different colors which is produced when light passes through a glass prism or through a drop of water
Wavelength
describes how long the wave is. The distance from the “crest” (top) of one wave to the crest of the next wave is the wavelength
