All substances are made of
tiny particles called atoms.
A substance made up of only one
type of atom is called an element.
Atoms of each element are represented by a chemical
symbol; usually consisting of one or two different letters, but
sometimes three letters are used.
The first letter in a chemical
symbol is a capital letter, and
the others lowercase.
Atoms have a small central nucleus,
made up of protons and neutrons
surrounded by energy levels containing
electrons.
The first level can only
hold two electrons and
the second and third,
eight electrons.
In an atom, the number
of protons is the same
as electrons. Atoms
have no overall charge.
The relative electrical
charges are as follows:
protons +1, neutrons 0
and electrons -1.
The number of protons in an
atom is the atomic number.
The sum of the protons and
neutrons is the mass number.
C1.1.2 The Periodic Table
There are about 100 different
elements; shown in the
periodic table arranged by
atomic number.
Metals appear on the left with
non-metals to the right.
The horizontal rows are called periods and the
vertical columns are called groups.
Atoms in the same period have
the same number of occupied
energy levels and atoms in a group
have the same number of electrons
in the highest occupied energy
level.
Elements in group 0 have full
energy levels and are inert.
These elements are called
the Noble Gases.
Elements in group 1 or 7 are
the most reactive.
C1.1.3 Chemical Reactions
When elements react, atoms
lose, gain or share electrons
to form ions or molecules.
Compounds
formed from metals
and non-metals
consist of ions.
Metal atoms lose electrons to form
positive ions and non-metals
gain electrons to form negative ions.
Oppositely charged ions are
attracted, forming ionic bonds.
Compounds formed
from non-metals
consist of molecules.
Atoms share pairs of
electrons in their highest
energy level to gain full outer
shells, forming covalent bonds.
Chemical reactions are
represented by word equations
or by symbol equations.
No atoms are lost or made during a
reaction so the mass of the products
equals the mass of the reactants.