Electron Theory (3.1)

Front

All materials are made up of:

Back

Atoms.

Answer explanation

All materials are composed of atoms, which are the basic units of matter. Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons, but the correct answer focuses on the fundamental building blocks, which are atoms.

Front

An atom can be represented by the valence shell and a:

Back

Core that consists of all the inner shells and the nucleus.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'Core that consists of all the inner shells and the nucleus' because it accurately represents the structure of an atom, where the valence shell is surrounded by the core, which includes the nucleus and inner electron shells.

Front

What does the nucleus of an atom contain?

Back

Protons and neutrons.

Answer explanation

The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons. Protons are positively charged, while neutrons have no charge. Electrons, which are negatively charged, orbit the nucleus but are not found within it.

Front

What type of electrical charge do electrons possess?

Back

Negative.

Answer explanation

Electrons are subatomic particles that carry a negative electrical charge. This is a fundamental property of electrons, distinguishing them from protons, which have a positive charge, and neutrons, which are neutral.

Front

Luca and Kayla are comparing different materials to find out which one conducts electricity the best. What determines a material's conductivity?

Back

Its willingness to share electrons.

Answer explanation

A material's conductivity is primarily determined by its willingness to share electrons. Materials that can easily share or transfer electrons, like metals, exhibit high conductivity, while insulators do not.

Front

What type of material should Kayla and Luca use to easily conduct electricity?

Back

Conductor.

Answer explanation

A material that easily conducts electricity is called a conductor. Conductors allow electric current to flow freely, unlike insulators, which resist it, and semiconductors, which have intermediate conductivity.

Front

Luca and Kayla are discussing how electrons occupy regions around the nucleus in their chemistry class. They learn that these regions are called:

Back

Electron shells (or orbits).

Answer explanation

Electrons occupy regions around the nucleus known as electron shells (or orbits). These shells represent the different energy levels where electrons can be found, distinguishing them from energy bands and conduction/valence bands.

Front

In a science class, Kayla and Luca are learning about electrons. They discover that electrons in a particular electron shell possess a discrete amount of: Mass, Charge, Energy, Velocity.

Back

Energy.

Answer explanation

Electrons in an electron shell have quantized energy levels, meaning they possess specific, discrete amounts of energy. This is fundamental to quantum mechanics, distinguishing energy from mass, charge, and velocity.

Front

Imagine a solar system where planets orbit a star. Which planets are held most weakly by the star's gravity?

Back

Planets in the orbit furthest from the star.

Answer explanation

Electrons in the shell furthest from the nucleus are held most weakly because they experience less electrostatic attraction from the protons, making them easier to remove compared to those in inner shells.

Front

In a science class, Kayla is asked to identify the outermost shell of an atom. What is it known as?

Back

Valence shell.

Answer explanation

The outermost shell of an atom is called the valence shell. This shell contains the electrons involved in chemical bonding, distinguishing it from the inner shells and the nucleus.