AS Inorganic Chem

most atoms become more stable by..

losing or gaining electrons, forming charged ions

oxidisation

atom loses electrons

most atoms become more stable by..

losing or gaining electrons, forming charged ions

oxidisation

atom loses electrons

reduction

atom gains electrons

reducing agents

get themselves oxidised, causing another species to be reduced

oxidising agents

get themselves reduced, causing another species to be oxidised

half-equations

show how one species is being oxidised or reduced in a redox reaction

periodic table

arrangement of elements in periods and groups based on atomic numbers

groups

show the number of electrons in outer shell of an element

period

show number of shells of an element

s/p/d block

refers to type of electron orbital of the outermost electrons in an element

atomic radius across

decreases across a period

atomic radius down

increases down a group

electron shielding

electrons in inner shells shield the positive charge of the nucleus from electrons in outer shells

the greater the degree of electron shielding..

less tightly outer electrons are attracted and pulled into the nucleus, so the larger the atomic radius