Electrons

Picture Vocabulary

Chemistry

Electromagnetic Spectrum

A continuum of all electromagnetic waves

arranged according to frequency and wavelength.

Energy

The ability of a system to do work or produce

heat.

Wave

A transfer of energy that creates a disturbance

that travels through both space and time.

Frequency

The number of wave cycles that pass

through a given point per unit of time.

Wavelength

The distance between two adjacent crests of a

wave.

Photon

A particle that is a form of electromagnetic energy

which is described as a quantum of light.

Light

A form of electromagnetic radiation with visible light

waves falling between the range of 380 nanometers to
750 nanometers.

Emission Spectrum

The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation

emitted by the electrons of atoms or molecules as
those electrons return to a lower and more stable
energy state.

Atomic Structure

Picture Vocabulary

Chemistry

Isotope

Atoms of the same element that differ in the

number of neutrons.

Percent Abundance
Isotope of
Oxygen

O
O
O

Percentage (%)

Mass (amu)

99.76

15.995

0.037

16.995

0.204

17.995

A percentage of the naturally occurring isotopes of an

element that is used to find the average atomic mass of
that element.

Electron Configuration

The arrangement of an elements electrons in

various orbitals around the nucleus to achieve the
lowest energy state.

Lewis Valence Electron

Dot Structure

Also known as electron dot structure; shows an

elements symbol surrounded by dots representing the
elements valence electrons placed on the four sides of
the symbol.

Mass Number

The total number of protons and neutrons

in the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic Orbital

A model that describes the likelihood, or

probability, of finding an electron at a specific
location and position around the nucleus.

Principal Energy Level

The energy level represented by the quantum number n,

where each period of the Periodic Table represents a
different principal energy level represented by its
corresponding quantum number (n=1, 2, 3).

Energy Sublevel

One or more atomic orbitals that have

different shapes and energies, represented
by the specific letters s, p, d, and f.