Atomic Structure & Periodicity
8 terms
Alkali Metals
The group 1 elements — lithium through francium — which have a single valence s electron.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAlkaline Earth Metals
The group 2 elements — beryllium through radium — which have two valence s electrons.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAtomic Emission Spectrum
The pattern of discrete wavelengths emitted when excited atoms of an element return to lower energy states.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAtomic Number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which uniquely identifies the element.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAtomic Orbital
A mathematical function describing the region around a nucleus where an electron of given energy is most likely to be found.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAtomic Radius
A measure of the size of an atom, usually taken as half the distance between the nuclei of two bonded identical atoms.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAufbau Principle
The rule that electrons occupy the lowest-energy orbital available before filling higher-energy ones.
Atomic Structure & PeriodicityAzimuthal Quantum Number
The quantum number l that determines the shape of an orbital and the magnitude of the electron's orbital angular momentum.