Chemistry Unit 1 Vocabulary

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Atom

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The basic unit of a chemical element.

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Nucleus

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The central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons.

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Proton

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A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of every atom, carrying a positive charge.

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Neutron

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A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of atoms that is neutral, having no charge.

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Electron

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A subatomic particle with a negative charge, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids.

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Atomic number (Z)

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The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table.

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Mass number (A)

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The total number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus.

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Isotope

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Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

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Ion

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An atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

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Cation

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A positively charged ion, i.e., one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis.