Topic C1 - Atomic Structure And The Periodic Table

Question 1

Atoms

Answer 1

All substances are made of atoms

Really small - to small to see, even with your microscope.

Question 2

Atom radius

Answer 2

Atoms have a radius of about 0.1 nanometers (that’s 1 x 10 to the power of -10 m)

Question 3

The nucleus

Answer 3

• It’s in the middle of the atom.
• It contains protons and neutrons.
• The nucleus has a radius of around 1 x 10 to the power of -1
• It has a positive charge because of the protons.
• Almost the whole mass of the atom is concentrated in the nucleus

Question 4

The electrons

Answer 4

• move around the nucleus in electron shells.
• They’re negatively charged and tiny, but they cover a lot of space.
• The volume of their orbits determines the size of the atom
• electrons have virtually no mass

Question 5

Separation techniques

Answer 5

Filtration and crystallisation are methods of separating mixtures.
These techniques are used all the time to separate solids from liquids.

Question 6

What filtration can be used for

Answer 6

Filtration can be used if your product is an insoluble solid that needs to be separated from a liquid reaction mixture.
It can be used in purification as well. For example, solid impurities in the reaction mixture can be separated out using filtration.

Question 7

What insoluble means

Answer 7

Insoluble means the solid can’t be dissolved in the liquid

Question 8

What are group 1 elements also known as?

Answer 8

Alkali metals

Question 9

What are the alkali metals?

Answer 9

Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium

Question 10

How many electrons do they have?

Answer 10

They all have 1 electron in their outer shell which makes them very reactive and gives them similar properties

Question 11

What are the alkali metals like?

Answer 11

They are soft and have low density

Question 12

What are the trends for the alkali metals as you go down?

Answer 12

Increasing reactivity - the outer electron is more easily lost as the attraction between the nucleus and electron decreases.
Lower melting point and boiling points
Higher relative atomic mass

Question 13

What do the group 1 elements form?

Answer 13

1+ ion

Question 14

When do group 1 elements react?

Answer 14

They only ever react to form ionic compounds. These compounds are generally white solids that dissolve in water to form colourless solutions

Question 15

What happens when group 1 elements are put in water?

Answer 15

They react very vigorously

Question 16

What happens when lithium, sodium and potassium are put in water?

Answer 16

They float and move around the surface, fizzing furiously

Question 17

What gas do they produce?

Answer 17

They produce hydrogen

Question 18

What can they also form?

Answer 18

They can also form hydroxides that dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions

Question 19

What happens when group 1 metals react with oxygen?

Answer 19

They form a metal oxide