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Anion
A negatively charged ion.
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Cation
A positively charged ion.
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Electron
A particle with a net charge of –1 and a mass of 1/1836 a.m.u., found in the energy levels outside the nucleus. They are lost, gained or shared in the formation of a chemical bond.
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Electronegativity
An atom’s attraction to electrons in achemical bond. Used to determinebond type, polarity of a molecule and attractive force typeand strength.
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Excited State
A condition where and atom’s electrons occupy higher energy levels than they normally would.
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Frequency (ν)
The number of wavelengths that pass a fixed point per second.
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Ground State
A condition where an atom’s electrons are occupying the lowest possible energy states.
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Ion
A charged atom or group of atoms formed by the gain orloss ofelectrons.
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Ionic radius
The measure of the size of an ion.
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Ionization energy
The energy required to remove an atom’s most loosely held valence electron, measured when the element is in the gas phase.
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Kernal
Photon An infinitesimally small particle that travels in a
wave-fashion that is
released when electrons fall from the excited state into the
ground state.
It is also known as a packet of light-energy or quanta.
The atom beneath the valence electrons, including the rest of the electrons in the lower energy levels and the nucleus.
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Orbital
A region of space around the nucleus that is the most likely location one can find an electron in an atom.
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Orbital Notation
Also called “box diagrams”, these schematics describe the location and spin of every electron in an atom.
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Oxidation
The loss of electrons from an atom or ion.
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Photon
An infinitesimally small particle that travels in a wave-fashion that is released when electrons fall from the excited state into the ground state.It is also known as a packet of light-energy or quanta.
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Planck’s Constant (h)
A proportionality constant thatconverts Hz (frequency) to J (energy). It is6.6 X 10-34 J/Hz.
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Reduction
The gain of electrons by an atom or ion.
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Quantum Number
A four-digit series of numbers that identifies the location of a specific electron around the nucleus based on PEL, sublevel, orbital and spin.
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Shell (Principal Energy Level, PEL)
The most general location an electron can be found around the nucleus.
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Stable octet
An electron configuration that is reached when atoms gain, lose or share electrons in an attempt to get a noble gas electron configuration of eight valence electrons. Hydrogen is an exception to this “Rule of Eight”.
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Sublevel
Regions of space that electrons occupy make up a principal energy level.
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Speed of Light (c)
The velocity of light photons in a vacuum, 3.0 X 108 m/second.
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Valence electrons
The electrons that reside in the outmost principal energy level of an atom.These electrons are lost, gained or shared in the formation of a chemical bond.
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Wavelength (λ)
The distance from one peak to the next in a wave. Measured in meters.
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