Chapter 4 Ps Vocab

Nucleus

A dense, positively charged mass located in the center of the atom

Electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle that is found in the space outside the nucleus ( electron cloud)

Neutron

A neutral subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Proton

A positively charged subatomic particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom

Orbital

A region of space around the nucleus where an electron is likely to be found.

Electron cloud

A visual model of the most likely location for electrons in an atom

Isotopes

Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons and different mass

Atomic number

Number of protons in an atom

Energy levels

Possible energies that electrons in an atom can habe

Atomic mass

Sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus

Electron configuration

The arrangement of electrons in the orbitals of an atom

Ground state

When all electrons in an atom have the lowest possible energies.