Atoms, Elements, and Compounds

Flashcards covering the properties of atoms, elements, molecules, chemical symbols, naming conventions for compounds, and chemical formulae.

What are atoms?

Atoms are incredibly tiny particles that make up all substances.

How many types of atoms exist naturally?

There are $92$ types of atom - one for each of the $92$ elements that exist naturally.

What are the two defining characteristics of an element?

An element cannot be broken down into other substances and is made of one type of atom only.

Name four examples of elements listed in the transcript.

Gold, potassium, carbon, and hydrogen.

Where can the names and symbols of all elements be found?

On the Periodic Table of elements.

How are elements grouped in the Periodic Table?

Elements are grouped together by their properties, which are different for each element.

Why is the chemical symbol for an element considered universal?

It is the same in every language, even if the name of the element is different.

What is the chemical symbol for Sodium?

$$Na$$

What is the chemical symbol for Sulfur?

$$S$$

What is the chemical symbol for Magnesium?

$$Mg$$

What is a molecule?

A molecule is made up of atoms all chemically bonded to each other.

Give an example of a molecule made up of several of the same type of atom.

Oxygen gas ($O_2$).

Give an example of a molecule made up of two or more types of atoms.

Sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$).

According to the transcript, why do different atoms in a molecule have different masses?

Because different elements have different masses.

What information does a chemical formula provide?

It tells you how many of each atom there are in a molecule relative to each other.

How many hydrogen and oxygen atoms are in a molecule of water ($H_2O$)?

Two hydrogen atoms for every oxygen atom.

What is the ratio of atoms in the chemical formula $NaOH$?

One sodium atom for every one oxygen atom, and every one hydrogen atom.

What are the characteristics of compounds?

Compounds are made of two or more different atoms strongly joined together and can be broken down into other substances.

When naming a compound made of a metal and a non-metal, which name comes first?

The name of the metal comes first (e.g., iron bromide).

What is a non-metal oxygen atom called when part of a compound?

Oxide.

What is the naming convention for a compound made of a non-metal and two oxygen atoms?

Oxygen comes second and is called dioxide (e.g., sulfur dioxide).

How do the properties of a compound compare to the properties of the atoms that make it up?

The compound has properties that are different from the properties of the atoms that make it up.

Describe the color changes that occur when silver and chlorine form silver chloride.

Silver (silvery) and chlorine (greenish yellow) combine to form silver chloride, which is white.

What is the color of the element Iodine, and what is the color of the compound Silver Iodide?

Iodine is dark grey, and Silver Iodide is yellow.