Element Builder Gizmo Vocabulary – Flashcards
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Atom
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The basic unit of matter • An atom is the smallest particle of an element that still has all the properties of the element. • Atoms are made up of smaller particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The smaller electrons orbit around a central nucleus of protons and neutrons.
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Atomic Number
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The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom • Elements are distinguished from one another by their atomic numbers. • For example, any atom with two protons is an atom of helium. • The symbol for the atomic number is Z. • In an element symbol, the atomic number is shown at lower left.
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Electron
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A negatively charged particle that moves around the nucleus • The mass of an electron is less than one thousandth of the mass of a proton.
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Electron dot diagram
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A diagram that shows the element symbol surrounded by dots representing valence electrons • For example, the electron dot diagram at right shows that neutral helium atoms have two valence electrons.
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Elements
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A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means • Elements are made of one type of atom • Atoms of different elements are distinguished by the number of protons in the nucleus. For example, all carbon atoms have 6 protons
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Energy Level
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A particular region where electrons can orbit a nucleus
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Ion
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An atom or molecule that has an electrical charge because it has gained or lost electrons • An atom with more protons than electrons is a positively charged ion, or cation • An atom with more electrons than protons is a negatively charged ion, or anion • In an element symbol, the electric charge is shown at upper right
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Isotope
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One of several forms of the same element • All isotopes of a given element have the same number of protons, but differ in the number of neutrons • Most isotopes are radioactive. Usually only one or two stable isotopes exist for a given element
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Mass Number
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The number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom • For example, the mass number of helium is 4 (2 protons and 2 neutrons) • The symbol for the mass number is A • In an element symbol, the mass number is shown at upper left
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Neutron
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A particle with no charge located in the nucleus of an atom • Neutrons have slightly more mass than protons • The number of neutrons is described by the neutron number, N • To find the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number from the mass number
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Nucleus
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The positively charged, dense center of an atom • The nucleus contains protons and neutrons
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Periodic Table
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A chart that organizes the chemical elements based on their properties
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Proton
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A positively charged particle located in the nucleus of an atom • Protons have slightly less mass than neutrons • The number of protons determines the element
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Radioactive
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Capable of releasing radiation • In a radioactive atom, the nucleus can spontaneously decay and emit particles and/or light. These emissions are called radiation • The energy released by radioactive substances can be harnessed to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. This energy also can be used to create a massive explosion in a nuclear bomb • If the emissions change the number of protons in the nucleus, the atom becomes a different element
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Valence Electrons
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Electrons found in the outermost energy level of an atom
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Protons and Neutrons
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_____ and _____ are found in the nucleus of an atom.
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Positive charge
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Protons have a _____ _____ and a mass of 1 amu.
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Neutral
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Neutrons are electrically _____ and have a mass of 1 amu.
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Atomic Number
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The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is the _____ _____.
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Isotopes
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Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons are called _____.
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Mass Number
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The _____ _____ of an atom is the sum of the protons and neutrons in its nucleus.
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Atomic Mass
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The _____ _____ of an element is the average mass of all the naturally occurring isotopes of an element.
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Negative Charge
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Electrons have a _____ _____.
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Electron Cloud
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Within the _____ _____, electrons are arranged in energy levels.
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Four Forces
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• Electromagnetic • Strong • Weak • Gravity
