Matter & The Period Table Vocab

Question 1

What is matter?

Answer 1

Anything that takes up space.

Question 2

What is an atom?

Answer 2

The smallest piece of an element that still has the properties of that element

Question 3

What is an element?

Answer 3

A substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance by ordinary means. Example: hydrogen.

Question 4

Mixture

Answer 4

Contains more than one element or compound spread among each other. Mixtures have the properties of the substances they are made of. Mixtures can be separated without a chemical change. Example: flirtering.

Question 5

Compound

Answer 5

Made of two or more different kinds of atoms joined together (by a chemical reaction). Compounds have properties which are different from those of the elements they are made of.

Question 6

What is a physical change?

Answer 6

A change where a physical property of matter is altered, but the substance remains the same kind of matter.

Question 7

What is a chemical change?

Answer 7

A change matter undergoes when it turns into a new substance.

Question 8

Atomic Number

Answer 8

Elements are arranged in order by their atomic number. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom/element.

Question 9

What is Atomic mass? (weight)

Answer 9

The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. (rounded to the nearest whole number for our class.)

Question 10

What is a proton?

Answer 10

A positively charged subatomic particle inside the nucleus of an atom.

Question 11

What is a neutron?

Answer 11

A neutral subatomic particle inside the nucleus of an atom.

Question 12

What is an electron?

Answer 12

A negatively charged subatomic particle found outside of the nucleus of an atom.

Question 13

What is the nucleus?

Answer 13

The center of an atom where protons and neutrons are located and contains the majority of mass for an atom.

Question 14

What is a Period? (on the Periodic Table of Elements)

Answer 14

7 horizontal rows on the periodic table where elements are arranged gradually and predictably based on their atomic number.

Question 15

What is a Group? (on the Periodic Table of Elements)

Answer 15

18 vertical columns on the periodic table where elements are arranged according to similar physical and chemical properties they share within a given group.

Question 16

What is a Metal?

Answer 16

The majority of the elements on the periodic table that: conduct heat and electricity; are ductile; shiny; malleable; and have high density.

Question 17

What is a Metalloid?

Answer 17

Elements on the periodic table that divide metals from nonmetals and can contain various property characteristics of both metals and nonmetals.

Question 18

What is a nonmetal?

Answer 18

Elements within the periodic table whose properties are: poor conductors of heat and electricity; dull in appearance; and brittle.

Question 19

What are representative elements?

Answer 19

Groups 1, 2, 13-18 on the periodic table that contain elements that are metal, nonmetal, and metalloids. Each group has its own unique properties for the elements of those specific groups.

Question 20

What are transition elements?

Answer 20

Groups 4-12 on the periodic table. All of these elements are metals. Some transition elements, called the inner transition elements placed below the main table. These elements are known as the lanthanide and actinide series.