Deck · MCAT
General Chemistry
Atomic structure and periodicity, bonding, stoichiometry, solutions, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, and electrochemistry for the MCAT.
190 cards · audited · SM-2 spaced repetition
Included with the full MCAT program — 8 decks, 1,519 cards.
Sample cards
What three quantities define the identity and mass of an atom: atomic number Z, mass number A, and neutron count?
Atomic number Z = number of protons (defines the element); mass number A = protons + neutrons; neutrons = A − Z. Isotopes share Z but differ in A (different neutron count).
What are isotopes, and how do they differ?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element (same number of protons, same Z) that differ in their number of neutrons, and therefore in mass number A. They have nearly identical chemical behavior but different masses.
WORKED: Chlorine has two isotopes, Cl-35 (mass 34.97 u, 75.77%) and Cl-37 (mass 36.97 u, 24.23%). What is its average atomic mass?
Average atomic mass = Σ(fractional abundance × isotopic mass). = (0.7577)(34.97) + (0.2423)(36.97) = 26.50 + 8.96 = 35.45 u. This matches the periodic-table value of ~35.45 u for chlorine.
What does the principal quantum number n specify?
n (= 1, 2, 3, …) specifies the principal energy level (shell) and the average size/energy of the orbital. Larger n means higher energy and greater average distance from the nucleus. The maximum electrons in a shell is 2n².
What does the azimuthal (angular momentum) quantum number l specify, and what values can it take?
l specifies the subshell/orbital shape. It ranges from 0 to n − 1. l = 0 → s, l = 1 → p, l = 2 → d, l = 3 → f. The number of orbitals in a subshell is 2l + 1.
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