Flashcard 1

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses.

Front

What does the atomic mass represent?

Back

The atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, measured in atomic mass units (amu).

Front

What is ionization energy?

Back

Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion in its gaseous state.

Front

What is the significance of the first ionization energy?

Back

The first ionization energy is important because it indicates how easily an atom can lose its outermost electron, which affects its reactivity.

Front

What is a mass spectrum?

Back

A mass spectrum is a graphical representation of the mass-to-charge ratio of ions, used to identify the composition of a sample.

Front

What is the relationship between core electrons and valence electrons?

Back

Core electrons are the inner electrons that shield the valence electrons from the nucleus, affecting the effective nuclear charge experienced by the valence electrons.

Front

What is a quantum jump?

Back

A quantum jump is the transition of an electron from one energy level to another within an atom, which can involve absorption or emission of energy.

Front

What happens during electron relaxation?

Back

During electron relaxation, an excited electron returns to a lower energy level, often emitting energy in the form of light.

Front

What is effective nuclear charge?

Back

Effective nuclear charge is the net positive charge experienced by an electron in a multi-electron atom, accounting for shielding by other electrons.

Front

How do isotopes of the same element differ?

Back

Isotopes of the same element differ in their number of neutrons, which affects their atomic mass but not their chemical properties.