Atomic Structure and Periodic Trends Flashcards

Grade 10 · Science · Flashcards

Review key vocabulary and concepts for atomic structure and periodic trends.

Flashcards

Proton: Positively charged particle found in the nucleus; number of protons = atomic number.
Neutron: Neutral particle in the nucleus; contributes to mass number but not atomic number.
Electron: Negatively charged particle orbiting the nucleus; involved in chemical bonding.
Orbital: A region of space where there is a high probability of finding an electron.
Period: Horizontal row in the periodic table; elements have the same number of electron shells.
Group (Family): Vertical column in the periodic table; elements share the same number of valence electrons and similar properties.
Electronegativity: An atom's ability to attract electrons in a covalent bond; fluorine has the highest value.
Ionization energy: Energy needed to remove an electron from a gaseous atom; increases left to right across a period.
Atomic radius: A measure of atomic size; decreases across a period, increases down a group.
Valence electrons: Electrons in the outermost energy level; determine how an element bonds with others.
Electron configuration: The arrangement of electrons in orbitals (e.g., 1s² 2s² 2p⁶); describes where electrons reside.
Shielding effect: Inner electrons partially block outer electrons from the full pull of the nucleus, reducing effective nuclear charge.