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Molecules and atoms
Simple chemical structure related to the periodic table.
14
Chemistry
09/18/2005
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Term
What is an atom?
 Definition
An atom is the smallest particle of an element. It cannot be split into anything smaller by a chemical reaction.
Term
What is an element?
 Definition
There are only just over a hundred different elements in the Universe. They are listed in the periodic table. An element only contains one type of atom.
Term
What does the periodic table do?
 Definition
It lists all of the elements in the order of their atomic number . They are arranged in columns called groups and rows called periods. The groups are like families of elements that resemble each other in the way they behave.
Term
What is a Group of elements?
 Definition
A column in the periodic table of elements that belong to the same 'family' - they all have similar behaviours.
Term
What is a period of elements?
 Definition
A row of the periodic table. All of the elements have different properties as you move across the table.
Term
What is the name of group 0?
 Definition
The Noble gases or inert gases as they don't usually react with anything!
Term
What is the name of group VII (7)?
 Definition
The halogens which means the salt givers. They are very reactive - the most reactive one is at the top of the group!
Term
What is the name of group I (1)?
 Definition
The alkali metals. They are very reactive.... and get more reactive as you go down the group.
Term
What is an atom made of?
 Definition
An atom has a tiny nucleus and is orbited by electrons (like the Sun orbited by planets).
Term
What is inside the nucleus of an atom?
 Definition
Protons (yellow in the diagram!) - the number of these tells you which element the atom is part of. They have a positive charge.... and neutrons (shown in orange) - we will come to them later!.... they have no charge.
Term
What is important about the number of protons in the nucleus?
 Definition
The number of protons in the nucleus is called the proton number by physicists but chemists call it the atomic number. The number of protons determines the number of electrons orbiting the atom. There are always the same number of electrons as protons in a neutral atom... and it is the arrangement of the electrons that governs how the atom reacts with other atoms. They react to get a full outer shell.
Term
What is the atomic number?
 Definition
The proton number of the atom - the number of protons in the nucleus.
Term
What is a molecule of an element?
 Definition
A molecule of an element is made when two or more atoms of that element join together. For example gaseous oxygen atoms go round in pairs, so do nitrogen, fluorine and chlorine atoms. They do this if they are very reactive. They share their electrons to obtain a full shell configuration
Term
What is a compound?
 Definition
A compound is made up molecules that contain two or more different types of atom bonded together.