Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table Flashcards
What are atoms?
Tiny particles of matter that are the building blocks of all matter
Atoms are made of subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?
At the center of the atom, called the nucleus.
What is the mass of an electron compared to protons and neutrons?
Negligible.
What is a chemical symbol?
A representation of an element, consisting of one or two letters.
What does an element consist of?
Atoms that all contain the same number of protons.
What is the significance of the atomic number?
It represents the number of protons in an element.
What is a compound?
A pure substance made up of two or more elements chemically combined.
How can compounds be separated?
They cannot be separated by physical means.
What is the chemical formula for water?
H2O.
What is the difference between elements and compounds?
Elements are pure substances made of one type of atom, while compounds are made of two or more different atoms chemically combined.
What are ionic compounds?
Compounds formed from metal and non-metal elements joined as particles called ions.
What suffix is used for non-metal compounds when naming?
‘-ide’ unless oxygen is present.
What are covalent compounds?
Compounds that contain only non-metals.
What prefixes are used in covalent compound naming?
- mono
- di
- tri
- tetra
- penta
What is a word equation?
An equation that shows reactants and products of a chemical reaction using their full chemical names.
What do reactants represent in a chemical reaction?
The substances on the left-hand side of the arrow.
What is the purpose of the arrow in a word equation?
It implies the conversion of reactants into products.
What is required for a symbol equation?
Reactants on the left and products on the right, with state symbols.
What do state symbols indicate?
The physical state of the substances involved in the reaction.
What must be true for a chemical equation to be balanced?
The same number of atoms of each element must be present on both sides.
What is the balanced symbol equation for the combustion of sulfur?
S (s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g).
What is a common mistake when balancing equations?
Changing the small numbers in the chemical formula of a substance.
What is the balanced symbol equation for magnesium oxide reacting with nitric acid?
MgO (s) + 2HNO3 (aq) ⟶ Mg(NO3)2 (aq) + H2O (l).
What is the balanced equation for the given elements?
1 Mg atom, 2 NO3 groups, 2 H atoms, 1 O atom
The equation represents the conservation of mass in a chemical reaction.