Introduction to Atoms and Elements

Flashcards covering key concepts about atoms and elements for review.

What are atoms?

Atoms are the smallest particle of matter that cannot be created or destroyed.

What is matter?

Matter is something that takes up space and has mass.

What are subatomic particles?

Subatomic particles are smaller particles inside an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What is the nucleus?

The nucleus is the center of an atom that contains protons and neutrons.

What are protons?

Protons are positively charged particles located in the nucleus of an atom.

What are neutrons?

Neutrons are neutral particles that reside in the nucleus of an atom.

What are electrons?

Electrons are negatively charged particles that move around the nucleus in shells.

What is an element?

An element is a pure substance made of only one type of atom.

Can elements be broken down into other substances?

No, elements cannot be broken down into other substances.

What is the periodic table?

The periodic table is a chart that arranges elements according to their properties, including atomic number.

What is atomic number?

The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus and determines the element's identity.

What is mass number?

Mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Give an example of an element and its atomic number.

Hydrogen has an atomic number of 1 because it has one proton.

Why do some elements have one-letter symbols and others have two-letter symbols?

One-letter symbols are for elements that have unique starting letters; two-letter symbols differentiate elements that start with the same letter.

What is a common characteristic of elements in the same group on the periodic table?

Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.

What is the significance of a capital letter in atomic symbols?

The first letter of an atomic symbol is always capitalized to distinguish it from other elements.