the smallest particle of an element that retains the chemical properties of that element
atom
a very small region located at the center of an atom
nucleus
atoms of the same element that have different masses
isotope
the distance between corresponding points on adjacent waves
wavelength
a three-dimensional region around the nucleus that indicates the probable location of an electron
orbital
states that mass is neither created nor destroyed during ordinary chemical reactions or physical changes
law of conservation of mass
positively charged subatomic particle
proton
the total number of protons and neutrons that make up the nucleus of an isotope
mass number
the number of waves that pass a given point in a specific time, usually one second; units of hertz (Hz)
frequency
the bending of a wave as it passes by the edge of an object or through a small opening
diffraction
the fact that a chemical compound contains the same elements in exactly the same proportions by mass regardless of the size of the sample or source of the compound
law of definite proportions
neutral subatomic particle
neutron
a method for specifying isotopes where the mass number appears with a hyphen after the name of the element
hyphen notation
a particle of electromagnetic radiation having zero mass and carrying a quantum of energy
photon
describes mathematically the wave properties of electrons and other very small particles
quantum theory
if two or more different compounds are composed of the same two elements, then the ratio of the masses of the second element combined with a certain mass of the first element is always a ratio of small whole numbers
law of multiple proportions
negatively charged subatomic particle
electron
a method for specifying isotopes that shows the composition of a nucleus using the isotope’s nuclear symbol
nucleus composition
a form of energy that exhibits wavelike behavior as it travels through space
electromagnetic radiation
specify the properties of atomic orbitals and the properties of electrons in orbitals
quantum numbers
the distance from the center of the nucleus to the outer portion of the electron cloud
atomic radius
short-range proton-neutron, proton-proton, and neutron-neutron forces that hold nuclear particles together
nuclear forces
a general term for a specific isotope of an element
nuclide
the emission of a continuous range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation
continuous spectrum
states that it is impossible to determine simultaneously both the position and velocity of an electron or any other particle
Heisenberg uncertainty principle