Topic 1 – Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Question 1

Alkali metals

Answer 1

The elements in Group 1 of the periodic table.

Question 2

Atom

Answer 2

The smallest part of an element that can exist. All substances are made up of atoms.

Question 3

Atomic nucleus

Answer 3

Positively charged object composed of protons and neutrons at the centre
of every atom with one or more electrons orbiting it.

Question 4

Atomic number

Answer 4

The number of protons in the nucleus.

Question 5

Chromatography

Answer 5

A separation technique used to separate a mixture of chemicals by
distributing the components between two phases.

Question 6

Compound

Answer 6

A substance made up of two or more types of atoms chemically combined
together.

Question 7

Crystallisation

Answer 7

A separation technique used to produce solid crystals from a solution by
evaporating the solvent.

Question 8

Displacement

Answer 8

A chemical reaction in which a more reactive element displaces a less
reactive element from its compound.

Question 9

Electron

Answer 9

Negatively charged subatomic particle which orbit the nucleus at various energy
levels. Very small relative mass (negligible).

Question 10

Electron shell

Answer 10

Different energy levels in atoms occupied by electrons.

Question 11

Element

Answer 11

A substance made up of only one type of atom.

Question 12

Filtration

Answer 12

A separation technique used to separate solids from liquids.

Question 13

Fractional distillation

Answer 13

A method of separating a mixture of substances according to their
different boiling points.

Question 14

Group (periodic table)

Answer 14

The columns of the periodic table represent different groups of
elements. Elements with similar properties are in the same group.

Question 15

Halogens

Answer 15

The elements in Group 7 of the periodic table.

Question 16

Ion

Answer 16

An atom or molecule with an electric charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.

Question 17

Isotope

Answer 17

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but a different number
of neutrons.

Question 18

Mass number

Answer 18

The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Question 19

Metals

Answer 19

Elements that react to form positive ions. Found to the left and towards the bottom of
the periodic table.

Question 20

Mixture

Answer 20

A mixture consists of two or more elements or compounds not chemically combined
together.

Question 21

Neutron

Answer 21

Neutral subatomic particle present in the nucleus of the atom. Relative mass of 1.

Question 22

Noble gases

Answer 22

The elements in Group 0 of the periodic table.

Question 23

Non-metals

Answer 23

Elements that react to form negative ions. Found towards the right and top of
the periodic table.

Question 24

Nuclear model

Answer 24

The nuclear atomic model stated that the mass was concentrated at the
centre of the atom and that the nucleus was charged.

Question 25

Periodic table

Answer 25

Table of elements arranged in order of atomic number and such that elements with similar properties are in the same column (group).

Question 26

Plum pudding model

Answer 26

Atomic model devised after the discovery of the electron. The model suggests the atom is a ball of positive charge with negative electrons scattered through it.

Question 27

Proton

Answer 27

Positively charged subatomic particle present in the nucleus of the atom. Relative mass of 1.

Question 28

Relative atomic mass

Answer 28

An average value that takes account of the abundance of the isotopes of the element.

Question 29

Simple distillation

Answer 29

A procedure by which two liquids with different boiling points can be separated.

Question 30

Transition metals

Answer 30

The collection of metallic elements in the middle of the periodic table.