AP Chemistry Flashcards: Atomic Structure and Electron Configuration
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
What two main factors, derived from Coulomb's law, influence the energy required to remove an electron?
The two primary factors are the electron's distance from the nucleus and the effective nuclear charge it experiences.
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What two main factors, derived from Coulomb's law, influence the energy required to remove an electron?
The two primary factors are the electron's distance from the nucleus and the effective nuclear charge it experiences.
Describe the charge distribution within a neutral atom.
A neutral atom has a dense, positively charged nucleus (protons and neutrons) that is surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons.
What are the fundamental components of an atom?
The atom is composed of negatively charged electrons and a positively charged nucleus, which is made of protons and neutrons.
How can you qualitatively estimate the ionization energy of an electron?
Ionization energy can be qualitatively estimated using Coulomb's law by considering the electron's distance from the nucleus and the effective nuclear charge.
Define ionization energy.
Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion.
What are the two classifications for electrons based on their location within an atom's shells?
Electrons are distinguished as either core electrons (in inner shells) or valence electrons (in the outermost shell).
How are electrons organized within an atom or ion?
Electrons in atoms and ions are organized into shells and subshells, which are described by the ground-state electron configuration.
What is a ground-state electron configuration?
It is the specific arrangement of electrons in an atom's shells and subshells that corresponds to the lowest possible energy state, as determined by the Aufbau principle.
What is the Aufbau principle?
The Aufbau principle is a rule used to determine the ground-state electron configuration of an atom or ion by filling shells and subshells in order of increasing energy.
What method is used to represent the ground-state electron configuration of an element or its ions?
The ground-state electron configuration of an atom or its ions is represented using the Aufbau principle.
What is the purpose of Coulomb's law in the context of atomic structure?
Coulomb's law is used to calculate the force between two charged particles, such as the attraction between an electron and the nucleus.