Prentice Hall Chemistry 5.3, 6.1-6.3

amplitude

wave heigh from zero to the crest

wavelength

represented by (lambda), is the distance between the crests

frequency

represented by v (nu), is the number of wave cycles to pass a given point per unit of time

hertz

cycles per second

electromagnetic radiation

includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet waves, x-rays, and gamma rays

spectrum

the different frequencies that separate when sunlight passes through a prism

periodic law

When elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, there is a periodic repetition of their physical and chemical properties.

metals

good conductors of heat and electric current

nonmetals

poor conductors of heat and electric current

alkali metals

the ashes

halogens

salt + to be born

noble gases

non metals sometimes called inert gases

representative elements

display a wide range of physical and chemical properties

transition metal

group B elements, copper, silver, gold, and iron. characterized by the presence of electrons in d orbitals

inner transition metal

characterized by f orbitals that contain electrons

atomic radius

one half the distance between the nuclei of two atoms of the same element when the atoms are joined

cation

an ion with a positive charge

anion

an ion with a negative charge

ionization energy

the energy required to remove an electron from an atom

electronegativity

the ability of an atom of an element to attract electrons when the atom is in a compound