Atoms can be found on
their own, or in groups.
When they're in groups,
this is called a molecule.
Atoms are made of protons,
neutrons and electrons.
Protons and neutrons are
gathered in a cluster at the centre
of the atom, whilst electrons orbit
the atom in layers called shells.
Electrons have a negative charge,
where as protons have a positive
charge and neutrons are neutral.
An atom contains the
same amount of
protons and electrons,
so it is not charged.
The amount of protons
in an atom is known as
the atomic number.
The mass number is the
amount of protons and
neutrons in the atom.
To find out the number of neutrons,
you must subtract the mass
number and the atomic number.
A substance which
contains only one type of
atom is called an element.
There are about 100 different
elements, which can be
found on the periodic table.
A mixture is a group
of atoms which are not
chemically bonded.
A compound is made
up of more than one
type of atom which have
been chemically bonded.
An atom can have 2 electrons in its
innermost shell, and up to 8 electrons in its
other shells. In order to have electrons in
outer shells, the inner shells must first be full.
C11.2
Rows of elements are called
periods. Elements in the same period
have the same amount of shells.
Columns of elements are called groups. Elements in the
same group have the same amount of electrons in their
outer shell, and all have the same amount of reactivity.
Elements in group 1 are called
the alkaline metals, and elements
in group 0 are called noble gases.
The alkaline metals
are the most reactive
elements on the
periodic table.
The noble
gases are
almost inert..
C11.3
The periodic table can
be divided into 3 groups:
A metalloid is an element with
some qualities of a metal, and
some qualities of a non-metal.
When you go down a group
and to the left of a period, the
elements get more and more
reactive.
The alkali metals
are so reactive
that they are rarely
found in nature,
and have to be
stored in oil to
prevent them from
reacting with the
air.
They are very soft and can be easily cut.
They react with water to form alkaline
compounds. They have a low density and
low melting and boiling points.
Alkali metals all have 1
electron in their outer shell.
More reactive metals have more shells, because
the further away an electron is from the nucleus of
the atom, the easier it is for the electrons to be lost.
alkali metal + water -> alkali metal hydroxide + hydrogen
alkali metal + oxygen -> alkali metal oxide
The noble gases all form colourless
gases at room temperature.
Helium only has 2 electrons
in it's outer shell, but all the
other noble gases have 8.
C11.4
A chemical reaction is a change that takes place
when one or more substances (called reactants)
form one or more new substances (called products)
Many chemical reactions are are irreversible
changes. You can spot this by a colour change,
a precipitate (solid) forming, an odour being
produced, or energy being produced (which is
shown by fizzing or burning.
In a chemical reaction,
electrons are either
shared, lost or gained.
An ion is a
charged atom
Ionic bonding takes place
between a metal and a non
metal. Electrons are taken,
not shared. The metal atoms
will lose electrons and become
positively charged, and the
non-metal atoms will gain
electrons and become
negatively charged. The ionic
bond is the attraction between
positive and negative ions.
In covalent bonding,
electrons are shared. It
only occurs between
non-metals. Each shared
pair is a covalent bond.
Metallic bonding occurs between metals. Metals
lose electrons, which become delocalised.
Because of these free-moving electrons, metals
can conduct heat and electricity well. Metallic
bonding is the attraction between positive metal
ions and delocalised electrons.
In a chemical
reaction, the
mass doesn't
change. This is
because no
atoms are made
or destroyed,
the reaction just
changes how
atoms are
bonded
together.
C11.5
In an ionic compound, the non
metal will be negatively charged and
the metal will be positively charged.