Periodic Table Trends Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining core terms related to periodic trends, atomic structure, and element classifications based on the practice material.

Valence electron

An electron located in the outer shell of an atom that is involved in chemical bonding.

Ion

An atom that has gained or lost electrons to achieve a full outer shell, resulting in a net electric charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electrons, a behavior typical of metals.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons, a behavior typical of nonmetals.

Atomic number

The identifier corresponding to an element's specific position and structure on the periodic table.

Metal

An element located on the left region of the periodic table that is typically shiny, malleable, and conducts electricity well.

Nonmetal

An element located on the right side of the periodic table that is typically dull, brittle, and a poor conductor of electricity.

Metalloid

An element bordering the staircase line on the periodic table that possesses properties intermediate between metals and nonmetals, such as Silicon ($Si$).

Period (periodic table)

A horizontal row on the periodic table that corresponds to the number of energy levels an atom has.

Group / family

A vertical column on the periodic table containing elements that share the same number of valence electrons and similar chemical properties.

Malleable

The physical capability of an element to be bent, shaped, or drawn into wire without shattering.

Conductivity

The property describing whether an element can effectively conduct electricity.

Reactivity

How readily an element gains, loses, or shares electrons to bond with other elements.

Octet rule

The principle stating that atoms form ions by gaining or losing electrons in order to achieve a full outer shell.