Introduction to Matter and Atomic Structure

Chemistry

What is chemistry?

The composition of substances and how they change.

What is matter?

Anything that has mass and takes up space (volume).

What are elements?

A substance made up of only one type of atom. All matter is composed of elements.

What is an atom?

The basic building block of all matter, the smallest particle of an element.

What particles make up an atom?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

How is the periodic table organized?

By atomic number, which is the number of protons in an atom.

What are the characteristics of metals?

Shiny luster, malleable, ductile, good conductors, high density, and high melting point.

What are the characteristics of nonmetals?

Dull, not malleable (brittle), not ductile, poor conductors of heat (insulators), lower density, and lower melting point.

What are metalloids?

Elements with mixed properties between metals and nonmetals.

What is the atomic number?

The amount of protons in an atom.

What is atomic mass?

The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.

How can you find the number of neutrons in an atom?

By rearranging the equation: # of neutrons = Mass - Protons.

What are isotopes?

Atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons, resulting in different masses.

What are the groups or families in the periodic table?

Vertical columns that contain elements related to one another.

What are the horizontal rows in the periodic table called?

Periods.

What color represents alkaline metals in the periodic table?

Red.

What color represents alkaline earth metals in the periodic table?

Orange yellow.

What color represents transition metals in the periodic table?

Light pale blue.

What color represents noble gases in the periodic table?

Pink.

What is the nucleus of an atom?

The center of an atom that contains protons and neutrons.

What is the charge of protons, neutrons, and electrons?

Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge.