Atomic Structure and Bonding Flashcards
7 cards from real BMST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Atomic Structure and Bonding flashcards as text
Which subatomic particle determines the chemical identity of an element?
Answer: Proton
The number of protons (atomic number) uniquely identifies each element.
What type of bond forms when one atom completely transfers an electron to another?
Answer: Ionic bond
Ionic bonds form through the complete transfer of electrons, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.
An atom has 17 protons and 18 neutrons. What is its mass number?
Answer: 35
Mass number equals protons plus neutrons: 17 + 18 = 35.
Which electron shell can hold a maximum of 8 electrons?
Answer: Second shell (n=2)
The second shell (n=2) has s and p subshells, holding a maximum of 8 electrons.
What is a polar covalent bond?
Answer: An unequal sharing of electrons due to electronegativity differences
Polar covalent bonds result from unequal electron sharing when atoms have different electronegativities.
Isotopes of the same element differ in their number of:
Answer: Neutrons
Isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, giving them different mass numbers.
Which model of the atom describes electrons as existing in a cloud of probability?
Answer: Quantum mechanical model
The quantum mechanical model describes electrons as existing in probability clouds called orbitals, not fixed paths.