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Atomic Structure & Periodicity

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Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

The principle that the position and momentum of a particle cannot both be known to arbitrary precision at the same time.

Δx · Δp ≥ h / 4π J·s
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Hund's Rule of Maximum Multiplicity

The rule that electrons occupy degenerate orbitals singly with parallel spins before any orbital is doubly occupied.

maximise total spin S Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Inner Transition Element

An element of the lanthanide or actinide series, in which f orbitals are being filled.

(n−2)f orbitals filling Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Ionic Radius

The effective radius of an ion within a crystal lattice, deduced from measured interionic distances.

pm
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Ionisation Energy

The minimum energy needed to remove the most loosely held electron from one mole of gaseous atoms in their ground state.

X(g) → X⁺(g) + e⁻ kJ/mol
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Isobar

One of a set of atoms of different elements that share the same mass number but have different atomic numbers.

same A, different Z Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Isoelectronic Species

Atoms or ions that possess the same number of electrons and the same electron configuration.

Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Isotone

One of a set of nuclides that contain the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons.

same N, different Z Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Isotope

One of two or more atoms of the same element that differ in neutron number and therefore in mass.

same Z, different A Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Magnetic Quantum Number

The quantum number mₗ that specifies the spatial orientation of an orbital relative to an applied magnetic field.

mₗ = −l … 0 … +l Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Mass Number

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus.

A = Z + N Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Metallic Character

The tendency of an element to lose electrons and display typical metallic properties such as lustre, malleability and conductivity.

Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Metalloid

An element with properties intermediate between those of metals and non-metals, lying along the periodic table's staircase.

Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Neutron

An electrically neutral subatomic particle found in the nucleus, with a mass slightly greater than that of a proton.

m_n = 1.6749 × 10⁻²⁷ kg u
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Noble Gases

The group 18 elements, whose completely filled valence shells make them exceptionally unreactive.

ns² np⁶ (He is 1s²) Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Node

A region within an orbital where the probability of finding an electron falls to zero.

total nodes = n − 1 Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Nucleus

The dense, positively charged core of an atom, containing virtually all of its mass in protons and neutrons.

r ≈ 1.2 × A^(1/3) fm m
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

p-Block Elements

The elements of groups 13 to 18, in which the outermost electrons progressively fill p orbitals.

ns² np¹⁻⁶ Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Paramagnetism

Weak attraction into a magnetic field, shown by substances containing one or more unpaired electrons.

μ = √(n(n+2)) BM BM
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Pauli Exclusion Principle

The rule that no two electrons in an atom may have the same set of all four quantum numbers.

n, l, mₗ, mₛ must differ Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Period

A horizontal row of the periodic table, corresponding to one principal quantum number of the valence shell.

Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Periodic Law

The principle that the properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers.

Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Periodic Table

The tabular arrangement of the chemical elements by increasing atomic number, grouping those with similar properties in vertical columns.

Dimensionless
Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Plum Pudding Model

J. J. Thomson's 1904 model picturing the atom as a sphere of diffuse positive charge with electrons embedded within it.

Dimensionless