Year 10 Chemistry Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering periodic table basics, subatomic particles, chemical bonding, and reaction types from the Year 10 Science curriculum.

Periodic Table

A table including every known element listed in order by their atomic number from $1$ (hydrogen) to $118$ (oganesson).

Chemical Symbol

A one or two-letter representation of an element that always starts with a capital letter; for example, silver is $Ag$, derived from the French word 'argent'.

Atomic Number

A number assigned to each element that represents the number of protons in its atoms.

Atomic Mass

The mass of an atom, usually found in the element's square on the periodic table, used to calculate the number of neutrons.

Protons

Subatomic particles with a positive charge (+) located in the nucleus; the number of protons equals the atomic number.

Electrons

Subatomic particles with a negative charge (-) that surround the nucleus on 'shells'; in a neutral atom, their number equals the number of protons.

Neutrons

Subatomic particles with a neutral charge (no charge) found in the nucleus; calculated as: rounded mass number - protons.

Nucleus

The central part of an atom formed by neutrons and protons.

Electron Shells

Energy levels where electrons circle an atom's nucleus; for the first $20$ elements, they follow a $2, 8, 8, 2$ configuration.

Valence Shell

The outermost electron shell of an atom.

Groups

The $18$ vertical columns in the periodic table; elements within a group share similar properties and have the same number of valence electrons.

Periods

The $7$ horizontal rows in the periodic table; the period number indicates the number of shells that hold electrons.

Alkali Metals

Group $1$ elements that are very reactive and form alkaline solutions (bases) when reacting with water.

Alkaline Earth Metals

Group $2$ elements found in compounds in the earth’s crust; they are less reactive than alkali metals.

Transition Metals

A large block of elements in the periodic table that are hard and have low reactivity, indicated by high melting and boiling points.

Halogens

Group $17$ elements that are highly reactive because they need one more electron to achieve a full valence shell.

Noble Gases

Group $18$ elements that have full outer shells and basically no reactivity; they are colorless and odorless.

Lanthanides

Elements found in Period $6$, also known as rare earth elements.

Actinides

Elements found in Period $7$ which are all radioactive.

Octet Rule

The principle that atoms are most stable when they have a full valence shell (usually eight electrons).

Elements

Pure substances made of only one type of atom that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Compounds

Pure substances made of two or more different elements chemically bonded together.

Metallic Bonding

A type of chemical bond formed between a metal and another metal.

Ionic Bonding

A type of chemical bond formed between a metal and a non-metal.

Covalent Bonding

A type of chemical bond formed between a non-metal and another non-metal.

Reactants

The starting substances in a chemical reaction, located on the left-hand side of a chemical equation.

Products

The substances produced during a chemical reaction, located on the right-hand side of a chemical equation.

Synthesis Reaction

A chemical reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a single new substance.

Decomposition Reaction

A chemical reaction in which a compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances.

Single-replacement Reaction

A chemical reaction in which one element replaces a similar element within a compound.

Double-replacement Reaction

A chemical reaction where the positive and negative ions of two ionic compounds exchange places to form two new compounds.

Combustion Reaction

A chemical reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen gas, releasing energy in the form of light and heat.

Law of Conservation of Mass

A law stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed during a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products.

Subscripts

Small numbers written after an element symbol (e.g., the '$2$' in $H_2O$) denoting the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

Coefficients

Large numbers written before a chemical formula (e.g., the '$2$' in $2H_2O$) indicating the number of molecules involved.

Hydrogen Pop Test

A test for hydrogen gas where a burning splint produces a popping sound due to combustion.