Periodic Table, Elements, and Ionic Compounds

Vocabulary flashcards covering the periodic table structure, physical properties of elements, allotropes, ion formation, and ionic compound formula rules.

Periods

The horizontal rows on the periodic table.

Groups / Families

The vertical columns on the periodic table whose elements share similar chemical properties.

Metals

Elements that make up most of the periodic table, appear on the left side of the staircase, conduct heat and electricity, are malleable, ductile, and have luster.

Nonmetals

Elements that appear on the right side of the staircase on the periodic table.

Metalloids

Elements that touch the staircase on the periodic table and possess both metallic and nonmetallic properties.

Malleable

A physical property of metals meaning they can be hammered into thin sheets.

Ductile

A physical property of metals meaning they can be pulled into wires.

Luster

A physical property describing the shine of metals.

Noble gases

Group 18 elements that are exceptions to high reactivity and are not generally found in combined compounds.

Noble metals

Unreactive metals found in nature in an uncombined state, including gold, platinum, and silver.

Diatomic molecules

Molecules made up of 2 atoms of the same element, including $H_2$, $N_2$, $O_2$, $F_2$, $Cl_2$, $Br_2$, and $I_2$.

Allotropes

Different forms of a given element, such as solid carbon occurring as diamond, graphite (bucky ball), and buckminsterfullerene.

Ions

Charged species formed when atoms gain or lose electrons.

Cations

Positive ions formed when metals lose electrons; they are generally named using the name of the parent atom.

Anions

Negative ions formed when nonmetals gain electrons; they are named by taking the root of the atom name and changing the ending to "ide".

Alkali metals (Group 1a)

Elements that predictively form ions with a $1+$ charge.

Alkaline earth metals (Group 2a)

Elements that predictively form ions with a $2+$ charge.

Halogens (Group 7a)

Elements that predictively form ions with a $-$ charge.

Transition metals

Metals that form cations with various charges.

Ionic compounds

Neutral chemical compounds formed by combinations of cations and anions where opposite charges attract and the net charge must sum to zero.

Writing formulas for ionic compounds

A two-step method: 1. Write the cation element symbol first, then the anion element symbol. 2. Write subscript numbers for the cation and anion so that their charges sum to zero.