Atoms and Elements

Question 1

Define: Matter

Answer 1

anything that takes up space and has mass

Question 2

What are the building blocks of matter?

Answer 2

atoms

Question 3

Who coined the word “atomos”?

Answer 3

Leucippus and Democritus

Question 4

T/F: An atom can be further divided into smaller particles

Answer 4

False, an atom is the smallest unit that CANNOT be divided

Question 5

What subatomic particle determines the identify of an element?

Answer 5

protons, because the number of protons in an atom is known as its atomic number, which is the defining characteristic of an element

Question 6

What 2 things are significant of an atom?

Answer 6

• atomic number
• atomic mass

Question 7

Why is the atomic number and atomic mass significant?

Answer 7

• atomic number tells you number of protons (an e-) in its nucleus, which directly determines its sequence/position on the periodic table
• atomic mass tells you the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom, providing information about the atom’s overall mass

Question 8

Who discovered the electron? What year did this occur?

Answer 8

J.J. Thomson, 1897

Question 9

Describe an atom

Answer 9

Atoms are the buidling blocks to matter that is composed of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, electrons. Protons and Neutrons and found in the nucleus of an atom, while Electrons revolve around the nucleus.

atoms CANNOT be divided further

Question 10

Know the charges (+, -, neutral) of a proton, neutron, and electron

Answer 10

Proton: +1 charge
Neutron: no charge
Electron: -1 charge

Question 11

What are 2 subatomic particles with similar masses?

Answer 11

Protons and Neutrons

Question 12

Of the three subatomic particles, which is the lightest?

Answer 12

electron

Question 13

What is the most and least abundant of elements in the earth crust?

Answer 13

Most abundant: Oxygen
Least abundant: Calcium

Question 14

List elements in order from most to least abundant within the human body

Answer 14

Most abundant

• Oxygen
• Carbon
• Hydrogen
• Nitrogen
• Calcium

Least abundant

CHON, Ca

Question 15

Trace elements can be found in our body that can be harmful. Name three trace elements

Answer 15

Trace Elements in Human Body:

• Cobalt: heavy metal
• Arsenic: carcinogenic
• Nickel: causes sinus problems

Question 16

A scientist discovers a new element called abigawhale. The scientist decides to symbolize the element as “AW”. Is this correct? Why/why not?

Answer 16

This is incorrect. The rule when writing symbols for elements is that ONLY the first letter is capitalized. This means it should be written as “Aw”.

Question 17

An unknown element is given with the numbers: 18 and 200. Which one would be the atomic mass and the atomic number?

Answer 17

Larger number is the atomic mass = 200
Smaller number is the atomic number = 18

Question 18

What does the atomic number of an element tell you regarding subatomic particles?

Answer 18

Atomic number = #protons (and #electrons in a neutral atom)

Question 19

What does the atomic mass of an element tell you regarding subatomic particles?

Answer 19

Atomic mass = #protons + #neutrons

Question 20

Scientists have found that all matter can be broken down chemically into ~100 different elements. Presently, ________ different elements are known. ________ occur naturally, meaning that _________ are synthetic

Answer 20

112 elements are known
88 occur naturally
24 are synthetic (112-88 = 24)

Question 21

When looking at the periodic table, can an element be a liquid, solid, and/or gas?

Answer 21

Yes, liquid
Yes, solid
Yes, gas

Question 22

T/F: Because Hydrogen is in Group 1A, it is considered a metal

Answer 22

False, Hydrogen is the only one in Group 1A that is NOT considered a metal; it is a gas

Question 23

Grab the periodic table of elements that the professor gave us (or refer to Goodnotes). Be able to name Group IA, Group IIA, Group VIIA, Group VIII. Be able to idenitfy which elements are a part of transition metals, inner transition metals, and semimetals/metalloids

Answer 23

Group IA: Alkaline Metals
Group IIA: Alkaline Earth Metals
Group VIIA: Halogens
Group VIIIA: Noble Gasses

Semimetals (Metalloids): Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po

Question 24

Given the periodic table, know which has characteristics of a metal/nonmetal

Answer 24

To the LEFT of semimetals: characteristics of metals
To the RIGHT of semimetals: characteristics of nonmetals

Question 25

Sodium (#11) belongs to _______

Answer 25

alkaline metal

Question 26

Cu (#29) belong to ________

Answer 26

transition metal

Question 27

O (#8) beings to _________

Answer 27

nonmetals

Question 28

T/F: Noble gasses (Group VIIIA) have different characteristics/significane compared to Halogens (Group VIIA)

Answer 28

True, because each column of elements have its own characteristics/significance

Question 29

We look at the _____ to give the characteristic of an atom. It gives it its own significance.

Answer 29

column

Ex: transitional metals have its own characteristics/significance

Question 30

What is the area used to describe the area where transition metals are found on the periodic table?

Answer 30

the valley