Exploring the basics of atomic structure, this overview covers protons, neutrons, and electrons, and how they form the nucleus and electron clouds of atoms. It delves into isotopic variations, highlighting their identical chemical behaviors but differing physical properties. The concept of radioactive isotopes is explained, emphasizing nuclear stability and decay processes. Additionally, the formation of ions through electron loss or gain is discussed, along with methods for determining an element's relative atomic mass using isotope abundances.
Show More
Atoms are the smallest units of matter that retain the properties of an element, consisting of a nucleus and electrons
Mass number
The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, reflecting the atom's mass
Atomic number
The atomic number is the count of protons and uniquely identifies an element
Isotopes are forms of an element with the same atomic number but different mass numbers due to varying numbers of neutrons
The stability of an atom's nucleus depends on the balance between protons and neutrons
Radioactive decay occurs when an unstable nucleus emits particles to achieve a more stable configuration
Ions are formed when atoms or molecules gain or lose electrons, resulting in a net electric charge
Ions can be cations (positively charged) or anions (negatively charged) depending on the gain or loss of electrons
Definition of relative atomic mass
Relative atomic mass is a weighted average of the masses of an element's isotopes, factoring in their natural abundances
Calculation of relative atomic mass
Relative atomic mass is calculated by multiplying the mass number of each isotope by its abundance and summing the results
00
The smallest units of matter that maintain an element's characteristics are ______, composed of a nucleus with ______ and ______, and encircled by ______.
atoms
protons
neutrons
electrons
01
Carbon, with an ______ of 6, has six ______, and its most prevalent ______ has six ______ as well, leading to a ______ number of 12.
atomic number
protons
isotope
neutrons
mass
02
Isotope definition
Atoms with same atomic number, different mass numbers due to neutron variance.
