Nuclear Chemistry and Fundamentals of Atoms (AP Chem)

A theory that states:
1. Atoms are the fundamental unit of matter
2. Atoms are very small
3. Atoms are very numerous
4. There are about 110 types of atoms called elements (see Periodic Table)
5. All atoms of the same element are identical in number of protons and chemical properties
6. All atoms of one element behave differently than atoms of other elements

A densely-packed positively-charge area called the nucleus surrounded by an “electron cloud” that is mainly empty space with a positive charge

A weighted sub-atomic particle that carries a positive charge and is used to identify elements

A weighted sub-atomic particle that has no charge and has variance across atoms of an element

A practically weightless sub-atomic particle that has a negative charge

A small, dense area in an atom where the protons and neutrons are packed together; carries a positive charge and the majority of the weight in an atom

A general area where electrons can be found in an atom, but is mostly empty space; carries a negative charge and has practically no weight

Forces involved with radioactivity (ie. spontaneous “self-destruction” of unstable nuclei)

A very strong force that over comes the repulsion of protons to hold the nucleus together, but only works over very short distances

Attractive forces between any objects with mass that increases proportionately with mass and proximity but does not have major affects at the atomic level

Either attractive or repulsive forces between objects of similar or different charges respectively that is very strong and crucial for atomic and molecular structure which increase proportionately with charge and proximity

The number of protons that all atoms of a particular element have in the nucleus

The one or two letter representation given to an element on the Periodic Table

An atom with no overall charge that has the same number of protons and electrons

An atom that has an overall charge that has lost or gain electrons from the outer edges of the electron cloud

An atom with an overall negative charge from gaining (an) electron(s)

An atom with an overall positive charge from losing (an) electron(s)

The number of protons and neutrons that equal approximately the total mass of a particular atom

A short-hand way to show the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons in a partuclar atom; constructed using the element symbol with its mass number in superscript and its atomic number in subscript to the left and the charge in superscript to the right

An atom of an element with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus which has a different weight

The natural ratio of isotopes

The average atomic molar weight of all isotopes of an element in proportion to their natural abundance; almost never whole numbers that are closest to the weight of their largest percent abundance

AW = (fractional abundance 1)(mass of isotope 1) + (fractional abundance 2)(mass of isotope 2) + …

A machine that is used to find that exact mass of atoms or molecules

Reactions that involve valence electrons that does not change the identity of the elements involved

Reactions during which nuclei change due to inherent instability or bombardment

Sub-atomic particles, small nuclei, or EM radiation that causes and/or results from nuclear reactions

A helium nucleus without electrons; atomic weight of 4, charge of 2⁺; has small penetrating ability, but can cause much damage

A high-speed electron originating from nucleus; no weight, charge of 1⁻; has a greater penetrating ability than alpha particles, but is not as damaging

High energy light, also known as EM radiation; has a great degree of penetration and is highly damaging

Spontaneous disintegration of unstable nuclei into nuclei and “radiation” which obeys the Laws of Conservation of Mass, Charge, and Energy

Radioactive decay that gives off an alpha particle; *occurs because too many protons

Radioactive decay that gives off an beta particle (electron); *occurs when too many neutrons because converts a neutron into a proton and electron not in the electron cloud

Radioactive decay that gives off an anti-electron (“positron”); *occurs when too few neutrons because converts proton into neutron and positron

Radioactive decay that captures an electron from the inner orbitals and “collapses” it into the nucleus; *occurs when too few neutrons because converts electron and proton into a neutron; opposite of Beta emission

A process where heavy nuclei (where the number of protons is greater than 89) split spontaneously into several lighter nuclei and energy

A sequence where one radioactive nucleus decays through many steps until a stable nucleus is reached

When a nucleus is struck by another nucleus or nucleus particle with enough energy to cause rearrangement of nucleons (AKA nuclear transmutations)

A nuclear reaction where heavy nucleus splits into smaller nuclei and energy is released

A self-perpetuating series of nuclear fission reactions caused by the release of more neutrons than the initial number

The minimum amount of fissionable isotopes needed for a sustained chain reaction

The combining of two different nuclei together fast enough to overcome EM repulsion and close enough for strong force attraction to create a bigger nucleus, producing a lot of energy

When various products of radioactive decay (notably alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma radiation) knock electrons out of molecules to form cation free-radicals; very damaging to organisms

A(t) = A(0)e^[(-ln(2)/t)(t)]

BE = P(p mass) + N(n mass) – mass
BE per nucleon = BE/nucleons*
*nucleons = P + N