8.2 Periodic Table and Atomic Structure Word List

atom

The smallest whole part of all matter.

element

A type of matter made of one type of atom.

molecule

A type of matter made of two or more atoms chemically bonded together.

compound

A type of matter made of two or more different types of atoms chemically bonded together.

metal

A type of matter which is typically a solid, shiny, malleable and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity.

non-metal

A type of matter which is typically not solid at room temperature (or is a brittle solid), with poor electrical and thermal conductivity.

metalloid

Elements that possess intermediate properties of metals and nonmetals.

alloy

Metallic substance formed by mixing at least one metal element with other elements which results in different physical properties.

chemical property

A characteristic of a substance that can only be observed or measured during a process in which the chemical identity of the substance is changed.

physical property

A characteristic of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance into something else.

lustre

The manner in which a newly exposed surface of a metal reflects light.

malleability

The ability of a metal to be beaten to form shapes without breaking.

ductility

The ability of a metal to be drawn out to form a wire.

conductivity

The ability of a substance to allow electricity/heat to travel through it.

nucleus

The small, dense, central region of an atom consisting of protons and neutrons.

proton

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

neutron

A subatomic particle with no charge found in the nucleus of an atom.

electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle found in the shells around the nucleus of an atom.

atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom which gives its unique properties.

mass number

The number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

electron configuration

A shorthand form of describing the ordered arrangement of an atom’s electrons in its shells.

valence electron

The electrons located in the outermost shell of an atom.

valence shell

The outermost electron shell in which valence electrons occupy.

group

A vertical column of the Periodic Table where each element has similar chemical properties.

period

A horizontal row of the Periodic Table.

alkali metal

The elements found in Group 1 of the Periodic Table.

alkaline earth metal

The elements found in Group 2 of the Periodic Table.

transition metal

A group of metals between Groups 3 and 12 of the Periodic Table.

halogen

The elements found in Group 17 of the Periodic Table.

noble/inert gas

The gases in Group 18 of the Periodic Table that are not chemically reactive as they have a full valence shell.