The Periodic Table - Compounds and Molecules

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the periodic table and descriptive chemistry.

Descriptive Chemistry

Framework for understanding various chemical concepts including the structure of atoms and bonding.

Ionisation Energy

The energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion.

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Octet Rule

Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full set of eight valence electrons.

VSEPR Theory

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory; used to predict the geometry of molecules.

Ionic Bonding

A type of chemical bond that involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Oxidation States

Numbers assigned to atoms in a molecule that reflect their degree of oxidation.

Alkali Metals

Group I elements known for their low ionisation energies and high reactivity.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Group II elements that are harder and less reactive than alkali metals.

Amphoteric

Substances that can react both as an acid and as a base.

Electron Deficient Clusters

Molecular clusters such as B2H6 that lack sufficient electrons to form fully covalent bonds.

Diagonal Relationship

Similarities in chemical properties between certain pairs of elements in different groups.

Heavy Elements

Elements in a group that tend to form single bonds and can expand their octets.

Noble Gases

Group VIII elements known for their inertness and high ionisation energies.

Bond Energy

The energy required to break one mole of a bond in a molecule.