Elements, atoms, compounds

What are atoms?

The basic building blocks of matter.

What are the three subatomic particles in an atom?

Protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What is the charge of protons?

Positively charged.

What is the charge of electrons?

Negatively charged.

Atoms are electrically neutral because they have an equal number of and .

protons and electrons.

What is an element?

A substance made of only one type of atom that has the same number of protons.

How are elements represented in chemistry?

By chemical symbols (e.g., H for hydrogen, O for oxygen).

What are metals characterized by?

Typically shiny, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity.

What are non-metals characterized by?

Typically dull, brittle, and poor conductors of heat and electricity.

What are metalloids?

Elements that have properties of both metals and non-metals.

What are ionic compounds formed by?

The transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal.

What defines covalent compounds?

They are formed by the sharing of electrons between two non-metals.

What does a chemical formula show?

The number and type of atoms in a molecule or compound.

What is the empirical formula?

The simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound.

What is a balanced chemical equation?

An equation that satisfies the Law of Conservation of Mass, where the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.

What are isotopes?

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.