Year 10 Chemistry Revision Booklet 2026

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms in atomic structure, the periodic table, ions, and chemical bonding.

Atom

The smallest unit of an element that retains the properties of that element.

Proton

A positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutron

A neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

Electron

A negatively charged particle that orbits around the nucleus of an atom.

Element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.

Atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, defining the element.

Mass number

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Ion

An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Cation

A positively charged ion that has lost one or more electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion that has gained one or more electrons.

Group

A column in the periodic table that contains elements with similar chemical properties.

Period

A horizontal row in the periodic table indicating the energy levels of the electrons.

Ionic bond

The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Metallic bond

The attraction between metal atoms and the surrounding sea of delocalized electrons.

Neutralisation reaction

A chemical reaction in which an acid and a base react to form water and a salt.

Law of Conservation of Mass

In a chemical reaction, matter is neither created nor destroyed.

Chemical formula

A representation that shows the elements in a compound and their relative proportions.