Atomic Structure Flashcard

Front

What is the charge of a neutron?

Back

A neutron is electrically neutral, meaning it has no charge.

Front

What is the atomic number of an element?

Back

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Front

How do you determine the number of neutrons in an atom?

Back

The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number (number of protons) from the atomic mass (rounded to the nearest whole number).

Front

What happens to an atom when a proton is added?

Back

Adding a proton changes the element to a different one, as the atomic number increases.

Front

What is the mass of an electron compared to a proton?

Back

An electron has a much smaller mass than a proton, approximately 1/1836 of a proton's mass.

Front

What is the significance of the atomic mass?

Back

The atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, reflecting both protons and neutrons.

Front

What is an ion?

Back

An ion is an atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Front

How many electrons can the first energy level of an atom hold?

Back

The first energy level can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.

Front

What is the relationship between protons and electrons in a neutral atom?

Back

In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons, resulting in no overall charge.

Front

What is the role of neutrons in an atom?

Back

Neutrons help stabilize the nucleus by offsetting the repulsive forces between positively charged protons.