The Chemistry Book

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• Absorption spectra-light spectrum that is missing certain frequencies due to traveling through a cool gas
• Actinide-elements 89-103
• Alkali metals- a Group 1 metals
• Alkaline earth metals-a Group 2 metal
• Angular momentum-the tedency of an object to spin
• Atom-the fundamental unit of which elements are composed.
• Atomic mass-the weight average mass of the atoms in a naturally occurring element.
• Atomic number-the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; each element has a unique atomic number
• Atomic theory-theory stating the smallest unit of matter that is undivisble is an atom
• Bohr model-a model that proposes an atom is made up of a positive core(nucleus) and electrons circle it in fixed orbits
• Bright-line spectra-
• Cathode rays-the "rays" emanating from the negative electrode (cathode) in a partially evacuated tube; a stream of electrons
• Chalcogens- elements in group 6a of the periodic table
• Chemical properties-the ability of a substance to change to a different substance.
• Diameter
• Discrete energy levels-energy levels that an electron will “jump” between as it becomes more or less “excited”, emitting a photon of light
• Electromagnetic radiation-radiant energy that exhibits wave-like behavior and travels through space at the speed of light in a vacuum.
• Electromagnetic waves-a disturbance repeated over a certain wavelength
• Electronegativity-the tendency of an atom in a molecule to attract shared electrons to itself.
• Electrons-negative componets of an atom that circle the nucleus in orbitals
• Element
• Emission
• Energy-the capacity to do work or to cause the flow of heat.
• Energy levels-certain orbitals where an electron may be found depeneding on its current energy state.
• Family-elements in the same vertical column of the periodic table. Elements in a family share similar properties
• Frequency-the number of waves(cycles)per second that pass a given point in space.
• Halogens-Group 7 element.
• Ionization energy-the quantity of energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom or ion.
• Ions-atoms that have become a charged entity by gaining or losing an
• Isotopes-atoms of the same element(the same number of protons) that have different numbers of neutrons. They have identical atomic numbers but different mass numbers.
• Lanthanide-elements 57-71
• Mass-the quantity of matter in an object.
• Metals
• Model-(theory) a set of assumptions put forth to explain the observed behavior of matter. The models of chemistry usually involve assumptions about the bahavior of individual atoms or molecules.
• Molecules
• N is the principal quantum number
• Neutrons-a particle with no net charge that is located in the nulcues of an atom
• Nonmetals-an element that does not exhibit metallic characteristics. Chemically, a typical nonmetal accepts electrons for a metal.
• Nucleus-the positive core of an atom made up of protons and nuetrons
• Orbital-a point in space around an atom where an electron may be found
• Periodic Table-a table listing elements by atomic number
• Periodicity-the varying of properties of elements
• Photoelectric effect-when light is shone onto a metal the metal will emit electrons
• Photons-basic units of electromagnetic radiation and light
• Physical
• Probabilistic nature
• Protons-positive particles that make up the nucleus of an atom
• Quantum
• Quantum electron configuration
• Quantum mechanical model-a model that shows the probable location of an electron
• Quantum mechanics-the study of mechanical systems whose dimensions are close to or below the atomic scale
• Quantum theory-a theory of the interaction of matter and radiation
• Radioactive-unstable nuclei in atoms
• Radius (Radii)
• Reactivity-the tendency to respond to certain stimuli
• S p d and f subshells of quantum number
• Semimetals(metalloids)-elements that share properties both with nonmetals and metals
• Spectral lines-colored lines that appear when white light is shone through an element then through a prism.
• Spectrum-range of values of a quantity or set of related quantities
• Subshells
• Transactinide-series of elements with an atomic number greater than 103
• Transition metals-38 elements found in groups 3-12 on the periodic table
• Transuranium-elements with an atomic number greater than 92. These elements can not be found in nature
• Trillion
• Valence electrons-electrons that have reached the outermost energy level(the valence shell)
• Valence shell-the outermost energy level
• Wave properties-a wave will follow a certain pattern “cresting” at certain intervals until hitting something that diffuses the wave
• Wavelength-the distance between the tip of a wave and the tip of the following wave