Chapter 1 - Atoms, elements and the periodic table

Question 1

Atom

Answer 1

smallest unit of matter used in VCE chemistry

Question 2

Atomic number

Answer 2

number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Question 3

Chemical symbol

Answer 3

abbreviation used to represent a chemical element

Question 4

Compound 

Answer 4

two or more atoms of different elements bound together

Question 5

Electron

Answer 5

negatively charged particle that exists outside the nucleus of an atom

Question 6

Element

Answer 6

pure substance containing only a single type of atom

Question 7

Ion

Answer 7

atom that has lost or gained electrons to become a charged particle

Question 8

Isotope

Answer 8

variants of an element which have the same atomic number but a different number of neutrons in their nuclei

Question 9

Mass number 

Answer 9

mass of an atom, equal to the sum of protons and neutrons

Question 10

Molecule

Answer 10

when two or more non-metal atoms bond by sharing electrons

Question 11

Neutron

Answer 11

neutral particle inside the nucleus of an atom

Question 12

Nucleus

Answer 12

region at the centre of an atom that contains protons and neutrons

Question 13

Periodic table

Answer 13

table of chemical elements in which elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number

Question 14

Proton 

Answer 14

positively charged particle inside the nucleus of an atom

Question 15

Subatomic particle

Answer 15

particle that exists inside the atom

Question 16

Aufbau principle

Answer 16

rule that states subshells are filled by electrons from the lowest to the highest energy level

Question 17

Blocks

Answer 17

assortment of elements into discrete categories based on which subshell their valence electrons are found in

Question 18

Electron configuration

Answer 18

arrangement of electrons in shells and/or subshells

Question 19

Energy shells or energy levels

Answer 19

orbits containing different levels of energy, around the nucleus of an atom where electrons are found according to the Bohr and Schrodinger models

Question 20

Groups

Answer 20

columns in the periodic table

Question 21

Orbitals

Answer 21

regions with the highest probability of finding electrons

Question 22

Pauli exclusion principle

Answer 22

rule that states an orbital can’t hold more than 2 electrons

Question 23

Periods

Answer 23

rows in the periodic table

Question 24

Periodicity

Answer 24

characteristics of elements in a period

Question 25

Valence shell

Answer 25

outermost energy shell

Question 26

Valence electrons

Answer 26

electrons in the outermost shell of an atom

Question 27

Core charge

Answer 27

attractive force between the positive nucleus and valence electrons, measured as the difference in the number of protons and inner electrons

Question 28

Electronegativity

Answer 28

 how strongly an atom attracts electrons towards itself

Question 29

First ionisation energy 

Answer 29

energy required to remove the first valence electron from an atom

Question 30

Ion

Answer 30

atom that has lost or gained electrons to become a charged particle

Question 31

Metallic character

Answer 31

chemical properties associated with metals

Question 32

Metalloids

Answer 32

elements which possess properties that are in-between those of metals and non-metals

Question 33

Noble gases

Answer 33

unreactive gases found in group 18 of the periodic table

Question 34

Octet rule

Answer 34

general principle which states that atoms like to have 8 electrons in their valence shell for stability

Question 35

Reactivity

Answer 35

tendency of atoms to undergo a chemical reaction

Question 36

Critical elements

Answer 36

elements that are vital and considered in short supply unless they are recycled as sources could become depleted in 50–100 years

Question 37

Endangered

Answer 37

elements that have a limited supply left on Earth

Question 38

Lanthanoids

Answer 38

15 naturally occurring metallic chemical elements, whose atomic numbers fall between 57 (Lanthanum) and 71 (Lutetium)

Question 39

Recycled

Answer 39

converting a waste product into a reusable product

Question 40

Sustainable

Answer 40

can be produced at a rate that is greater than consumption without compromising future generations

Question 41

Transition metals

Answer 41

elements that occupy groups 3 to 12 on the periodic table