The Periodic Table Flashcards
Define elements.
Pure substances that cannot be broken down any more
What is matter?
Everything around us
What are periods?
The horizontal rows in the periodic table
What are groups?
The vertical columns in the periodic table
What is the periodic table?
It is a classification system for elements, which means that it is a way of organising the elments into groups
Who was the first to group the elements in a pattern?
Dmitri Mendeleev (1834- 1907)
Jow did he arrange the elements?
He arranged the elements according to their properties. He realised that in this arrangement there were patterns of repeating properties. Scientists did not discover all the elements at the same time. Some elements were only discovered quite recently. However, even though some elements had not yet been discovered in the 1860s, Mendeleev still knew to leave blank spaces for these in the table
What are the letters in the blocks for and how are they written?
The letters are the element’s chemical symbol. The symbol always starts with a capital letter, and if there is a second letter, it is a lower case letter
What are the numbers in the blocks for and where are they positioned?
They are the atomic number and mass number. The atomic number is in the top left corner while the mass number is in the bottom left corner
What are the three categories of the elements in the periodic table?
Metals
Semi-metals
Non-metals
Where can you find metals on the periodic table?
They are arranged in the middle and on the left-hand side of the periodic table. Most of the elements are metals
Where can you find non-metals on the periodic table?
They are found on the far right-hand side of the periodic table, except for hydrogen, which is on the left
Where can you find semi-metals on the periodic table?
They are found in the region between metals and non-metals.
The zigzag line separates the metals from the non-metals on the periodic table with the semi-metals on either side of the zigzag line
What group is Lithium and Potassium part of?
Group I
What group is Beryllium and Magnesium part of?
Group II
What group is Boron and Aluminum part of?
Group III
What group is Carbon and Silicon part of?
Group IV
What group is Nitrogen and Phosphorus part of?
Group V
What group is Oxygen and Sulfur part of?
Group VI
What group is Fluorine and Chlorine part of?
Group VII
What group is Neon and Argon part of?
Group 0
What is everything in between group II and group III called?
Transition elements
Why is there a seperate block of elements under the periodic table?
It is linked to a line which shows where the table splits. The top row including the element in the main table just before the line are Lathanides. The bottom row including the element in the main table just before the line are Actinides
Define ductile.
Can be stretched into thin wires
Define malleable.
Can be bent and flattened into thin sheets without breaking
What are some of the properties of metals?
. Shiny
. Mostly solids, except mercury, which is a liquid
. Good conductors of electricity and heat
. Iron cobalt and nickel are magnetic metals
. Malleable
. Ductile
. High melting point
What are some properties of non-metals?
. Dull
. Gases, liquids and solids
. Poor conductors of electricity and heat
. Not magnetic
. Not malleable
. Not ductile
. Low melting point
What are the semi-metals?
Boron, Silicon, Germanium, Arsenic, Antimony, and Tellurium
What are some properties of semi-metals?
They have some properties of metals and some of non-metals. For instance, semi-metals are shiny but brittle and not malleable. They can conduct electricity but not as well as metals. They are called semiconductors. There is a very high demand for semiconductors as they are used in most electronic devices, such as computers, phones and radios
Which element is represented by the chemical symbol ‘H’?
Hydrogen
Which element is represented by ‘He’?
Helium
Which element is represented by ‘Li’?
Lithium
Which element is represented by ‘Be’?
Beryllium
Which element is represented by ‘B’?
Boron
Which element is represented by ‘C’?
Carbon