Physical Science Atomic Structure Review

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 electrons in a neutral atom?

Back

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.

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

What does the superscript in an ion symbol represent?

Back

The superscript indicates the charge of the ion; a positive charge means it has lost electrons, while a negative charge means it has gained electrons.

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.

Front

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

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of the electron configuration of an atom?

Back

The electron configuration determines how an atom interacts with other atoms, influencing its chemical properties and reactivity.

Front

What is the mass number of an atom?

Back

The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Front

How many protons does a sulfur atom have?

Back

A sulfur atom has 16 protons, which is its atomic number.

Front

What is the charge of a Br^-1 ion?

Back

The Br^-1 ion has a negative charge, indicating it has gained one electron.