| Term | Definition |
|---|
| element | a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by physical means |
| atom | the smallest particle of an element that has all of the characteristics of that element |
| nucleus | the center of an atom |
| proton | a tiny particle with mass and a positive charge |
| neutron | a tiny particle with mass and no charge |
| electron | a tiny particle with "no mass" and a negative charge |
| atomic number | the number of protons in an atom's nucleus |
| mass number | the combined number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus |
| energy level | the area in an atom where an electron is most likely to be found |
| valence electrons | the outermost electrons of an atom |
| isotopes | atoms of the same element with different mass numbers |
| atomic mass | the weighted average of the mass numbers of all of the isotopes of an element |
| radioactivity | the spontaneous process through which unstable nuclei emit radiation |
| compound | a substance that is composed of atoms of two or more different elemetns that are chemically combined |
| chemical bonds | the forces that hold elements together in a compound |
| covalent bond | the attraction of two elements to a shared pair of electrons |
| molecule | composed of two or more atoms held together by a covalent bond |
| ion | an atom that gains or loses and electron and has a charge |
| ionic bond | the attractive force between ions of opposite charges |
| chemical reaction | the change of one or more substances into other substances |
| solution | a homogeneous mixture that is the same phase throughout |
| acid | a solution containing a substance that produces hydrogen ions (H+) in water |
| base | a solution that produces hydroxide ions (OH-) in water |
| crystalline structure` | particle arranged in a regular geometric pattern |
| glasses | solids that consist of densely packed atoms arranged at random |
| evaporation | the change of state from a liquid to a gas |
| sublimation | the change of state from a solid directly to a gas, skipping a liquid |
| condensation | the change of state from a gas to a liquid |
| plasma | hot, highly ionized, electrically conducting gas |
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