gcse aqa atomic structure and the periodic table Flashcards
What is the basic unit of an element?
Atom
What particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?
Protons and neutrons
What is the charge of a proton?
Positive
What is the charge of a neutron?
Neutral
What is the charge of an electron?
Negative
True or False: Electrons are located in the nucleus.
False
What is the relative mass of a proton?
1
What is the relative mass of a neutron?
1
What is the relative mass of an electron?
1/1840
How do you calculate the atomic number of an element?
By counting the number of protons in the nucleus.
What does the mass number represent?
The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom.
Fill in the blank: The number of neutrons can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the _________.
Mass number
What is an isotope?
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy the first shell of an atom?
2
What is the maximum number of electrons in the second shell?
8
True or False: The periodic table is arranged by increasing atomic mass.
False
What is the periodic law?
The properties of elements are a periodic function of their atomic numbers.
What are groups in the periodic table?
Columns that contain elements with similar properties.
What are periods in the periodic table?
Rows that indicate the energy levels of electrons.
What do elements in the same group typically have in common?
Similar chemical properties.
What is a noble gas?
An element in group 18 that is inert and has a full outer electron shell.
Fill in the blank: Alkali metals are found in group _______.
1
What is the trend in reactivity for alkali metals as you move down the group?
Reactivity increases.
What are halogens?
Elements in group 17 that are highly reactive nonmetals.
What happens to the reactivity of halogens as you move down the group?
Reactivity decreases.
What is the significance of the atomic number in the periodic table?
It determines the identity of the element.
Fill in the blank: The elements in the same period have the same number of _________.
Electron shells
What is an ion?
An atom or molecule that has gained or lost one or more electrons.
What is the charge of a cation?
Positive
What is the charge of an anion?
Negative
True or False: Metals tend to lose electrons and form cations.
True
What is the electron configuration of carbon (atomic number 6)?
1s² 2s² 2p²
What is the octet rule?
Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to have a full outer shell of eight electrons.
Fill in the blank: The transition metals are found in groups _______ to _______.
3 to 12
What is a characteristic property of metals?
Good conductors of heat and electricity.
What is a characteristic property of nonmetals?
Poor conductors of heat and electricity.
What are metalloids?
Elements that have properties of both metals and nonmetals.
What is the importance of the periodic table in chemistry?
It organizes elements according to their properties and atomic structure.
What is the electron configuration of sodium (atomic number 11)?
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
What does the term ‘valence electrons’ refer to?
Electrons in the outermost shell that are involved in chemical bonding.
