Atomic Structure Flashcards Preview

MCAT Physical Sciences > Atomic Structure > Flashcards

Flashcards in Atomic Structure Deck (38)
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1
Q

Atom

A

Basic building block of matter, consist of protons, electrons, and neutrons

2
Q

Protons

A

+1

1.0073 amu

3
Q

Neutron

A

No charge, slightly heavier than a proton

4
Q

Electron

A

-1

1/1837 mass of proton or neutron

5
Q

Valence electrons

A

Electrons farthest away from nucleus that participate in bonding

6
Q

Orbital

A

Region around nucleus where electron is likely to be found

Each has unique assignment for n, l, and m(l) quantum numbers

7
Q

Atomic Number

A

Number of protons

8
Q

Mass Number

A

Protons + Neutrons

9
Q

Nucleus

A

Dense, positively charged atomic center that contains protons and neutrons

10
Q

Atomic Mass Unit

A

1/12 of Carbon-12 atom mass

11
Q

Atomic Weight

A

Average mass of all naturally occurring isotopes of a given element, measured in amu

12
Q

Avogadro’s Number

A

6.022 X 10^23 atoms/ mol

13
Q

Isotopes

A

Same atomic number, but different neutron number

14
Q

Bohr Model

A

Atomic model where electrons located in discrete circular orbits around nucleus, with electrostatic force acting as centripetal force

15
Q

What does emission give rise to and how is it useful?

A

Emission gives rise to fluorescence and the unique atomic emission spectra could be used to identify an element

16
Q

Quantum Mechanics

A

Study of physics at atomic level with discrete levels of energy

17
Q

Atomic Emission Spectra

A

Discontinuous spectra of lit produced when electrons emit photons of certain frequencies as they return to their ground states

18
Q

Atomic Absorption Spectra

A

The spectrum of certain absorbed light wavelengths corresponding to the energy electrons require to jump to the next energy level

19
Q

What is the basis for color in compounds?

A

Absorption

20
Q

Balmer Series

A

Set of spectral lines that appear in visible light region when hydrogen atom undergoes transition from energy levels n > 2 to n = 2

21
Q

Lyman Series

A

Set of spectral lines that appear in UV region when hydrogen atom undergoes a transition from energy levels n > 1 to n = 1

22
Q

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

A

Impossible to determine with perfect accuracy the exact momentum and position of orbiting electron simultaneously

23
Q

Quantum Number

A

Set of four numbers used to describe electrons energy state

24
Q

Photon

A

Unit of energy in the form of light equal to hf

25
Q

Pauli Exclusion Principe

A

No two electrons in the same atom can possess the same set of four quantum numbers

26
Q

Principal Quantum Number

A

It is any positive integer value and it describes an electron’s energy value
Max number of electrons in energy level n is 2n^2, where the difference in energy between adjacent shells decreases as distance from nucleus increases

27
Q

Azimuthal (Angular Momentum) Quantum Number

A

Refers to the subshells, ranges from 0 to n-1
l = 0, 1, 2, 3 ===> s, p, d, f
Max number of electrons in a subshell = 4l + 2

28
Q

Magnetic Quantum Number

A

Specific Region within a subshell where highly likely to find an electron, ranging from -l to l, including 0

29
Q

Spin Quantum Number

A

-1/2 or + 1/2

30
Q

What are the four quantum numbers?

A

Principal Quantum Number
Azimuthal Quantum Number
Magnetic Quantum Number
Spin Quantum Number

31
Q

Electron Configuration

A

Patterned order by which electrons fill subshells and energy levels in an atom

32
Q

Aufbau Principle

A

Electrons fill an atom in order of increasing energy level

33
Q

Hund’s Rule

A

Electrons will first fill equal energy orbital of subshell unpaired with parallel spins before coupling with other electrons of opposite spins in same orbital to maximize number of half-filled orbitals, allowing for most stable electron distribution

34
Q

Paschen Series

A

Set of spectral lines resulting when a hydrogen atom undergoes transition from energy levels n > 4 to n =3

35
Q

Isoelectronic

A

Two different elements with same electron configuration

36
Q

Paramagnetic

A

Atom or substance with unpaired electrons and attracted by a magnet

37
Q

Diamagnetic

A

Atom or substance with no unpaired electrons and repelled by a magnet

38
Q

Pfund Series

A

Set of spectral lines resulting when a hydrogen atom undergoes a transition from energy levels n > 5 to n = 5