Prentice Hall Science Explorer Chemical Building Blocks

atomic mass

the average mass of one atom of the element

in what order did Mendeleev arrange the elements in the Periodic table

He arranged them in order of increasing atomic mass

periodic table

regular repeated pattern

nucleus

the core of an atom

neutron

a particle with a no charge inside the nucleus

protons

a small particle with a positive charge inside the nucleus

electron

a pparticle with a negative charge outside the nucleus

atomic number

the number of protons in its nucleus

atomic mass unit

the measure of the particles in atoms

what does each square in the periodic table contain?

chemical symbol, name, atomic number and atomic mass

what can you predict about an element from its position in the periodic table?

an elements properties can be predicted from its position on the periodic table

chemical symbol

an element name that usually contains one or two letters

group/ families

elements in a column

periods

each horizontal row across the table

valence electrons

the number of electrons on the last energy shell

what happens to the number of valence electrons as you move from the left to the right on the periodic table?

they become less reactive

how to chemists classify metals?

based on physical properties

malleable

material that can be pounded into shapes

ductile

material that can be pulled out or drawn into a wire

conductors

metals that can transmit heat and electricity easily

magnetic

several metals that are attracted to magnets and can be made into magnets

reactivity

the ease and speed with which an element combines or reacts with other elements and compounds

alloy

a mixture of metals

metals in a group or family have _____ properties

similar

alkali metals

reactive metals in group one that are never found uncombined in nature

alkaline earth metals

group two metals that are not as reactive as group one metals but still very reactive

transition metals

groups three through twelve that form a bridge between very reactive metals and less reactive metals

metals in mixed groups

groups thirteen through sixteen (includes metals, nonmetals and metalloids)

lanthanides/ actinides

located below the periodic table known as the rare earth elements (periods 6 &7)

nonmetals

the elements that lack most of the properties of metals

where are non metals located?

located to the right of the zig zag line of the periodic table

What is a difference between metals and nonmetals?

physical properties

diatomic molecules

two identical atoms

non metals can form compounds with ____________________.

nonmetals

Group 14

the carbon family each element has 4 electrons

Group 15

the Nitrogen family each element has 5 valence electrons

Group 18

contains nonmetals exclusively

Group 16

Oxygen family contains 6 valance electrons

Group 17

Halogen Family/ 7 valence electrons

Group 18

Noble Gasses / don't gain , loose or share their electrons

metalloid

has some of the characteristics of metals and non metals

what is metalloids most useful property

ability to conduct electricity

semiconductor

substances that under some conditions can carry electricity

plasma

state of matter when atoms are stripped of their electrons and the nuclei are packed closely together

nuclear fusion

atomic nuclei combine to form a larger nucleus releasing huge amounts of energy in the process

supernova

tremendous explosion that breaks apart a massive star