Here are some specific terms related to an atom:
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Nucleus: The central core of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons.
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Proton: A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons determines the atomic number and the element.
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Neutron: A neutral particle located in the nucleus of an atom. Neutrons contribute to the atomic mass but do not affect the charge.
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Electron: A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus in electron shells or energy levels.
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Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which defines the element.
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Mass Number: The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
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Isotope: Variants of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.
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Valence Electrons: Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding.
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Ion: A charged atom that has either lost or gained one or more electrons, resulting in a positive (cation) or negative (anion) charge.
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Orbital: A region in an atom where there is a high probability of finding electrons, described by quantum mechanics.
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Quantum Mechanics: The branch of physics that describes the behavior of atoms and subatomic particles, including wave-particle duality and quantization of energy levels.
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Electromagnetic Force: The fundamental force that governs the attraction between electrons and protons.
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Atomic Mass: The weighted average mass of an element’s isotopes, usually expressed in atomic mass units (amu).
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Chemical Bond: The force that holds atoms together in compounds, which can be ionic, covalent, or metallic.
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Periodic Table: A tabular arrangement of the elements, organized by atomic number and chemical properties.
These terms provide a foundational understanding of atomic structure and the behavior of atoms in different contexts.