Each element is composed of extremely small particles called atoms.
Dalton's Atomic Theory - Postulate 2
All atoms of a given element are identical in mass and properties, but differ from atoms of other elements.
Dalton's Atomic Theory - Postulate 3
Atoms are neither created nor destroyed in chemical reactions; atoms of one element cannot change into atoms of another.
Dalton's Atomic Theory - Postulate 4
Atoms of different elements combine in fixed ratios to form compounds with the same relative number and kind of atoms.
Law of Conservation of Mass
The total mass of substances before and after a chemical process is constant.
Law of Constant Composition
Compounds have a definite composition with the same relative number of atoms of each element in any sample.
Law of Multiple Proportions
If two elements form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other are in ratios of small whole numbers.
Discovery of the Electron
J. J. Thomson discovered the electron as a negatively charged particle in 1897 using cathode ray experiments.
Millikan Oil-Drop Experiment
Measured the charge of the electron as 1.602 x 10-19 C, allowing calculation of electron mass.
Radioactivity
Spontaneous emission of high-energy radiation by atoms, discovered by Henri Becquerel and studied by Marie and Pierre Curie.
Types of Radioactive Radiation
Alpha (α) particles are positive, beta (β) particles are negative, and gamma (γ) rays are uncharged.
Thomson's Plum Pudding Model
Model of the atom as a positive sphere with embedded negative electrons.
Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment
Discovered the nucleus by observing deflection of alpha particles, showing atoms have a small, dense positive center.
Modern Atomic Structure
Atoms consist of a dense nucleus with protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in mostly empty space.
Subatomic Particles
Protons (+1 charge), neutrons (neutral), and electrons (-1 charge); protons and neutrons have similar mass, electrons much smaller.
Atomic Number
Number of protons in the nucleus; defines the element and equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom.
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Atomic Mass Unit (amu)
Unit of atomic mass; 1 amu = 1.66053907 x 10-24 g, based on carbon-12 mass.
Atomic Weight
Weighted average mass of an element's isotopes based on their natural abundance.
Periodic Table Organization
Elements arranged by increasing atomic number in rows (periods) and columns (groups) with similar chemical properties.
Groups in the Periodic Table
Columns with elements sharing chemical properties; notable groups include alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, and noble gases.
Metals vs Nonmetals
Metals are shiny, conductive solids (except mercury); nonmetals vary in state and are on the right side of the periodic table.
Metalloids
Elements along the stair-step line with properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals.
Chemical Formula
Shows the number of atoms of each element in a molecule using subscripts.
Diatomic Molecules
Seven elements naturally exist as diatomic molecules: H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2.
Empirical vs Molecular Formulas
Empirical formulas show the lowest whole-number ratio of atoms; molecular formulas show the exact number of atoms.
Ions
Atoms that gain electrons become anions (negative), and atoms that lose electrons become cations (positive).
Ionic Compounds
Formed from metals and nonmetals by transfer of electrons; compounds are electrically neutral with empirical formulas.
Naming Ionic Compounds
Name the cation first, then the anion; use Roman numerals for cations with multiple charges; anions end with -ide or use polyatomic ion names.