This chapter explores the rudimentary concepts of matter’s structure and how it is manipulated to form different substances from the same set of fundamental building blocks. We also indulge into why specific substances exhibit certain properties.
Elements, compounds and mixtures
[x] Describe the differences between elements, compounds and mixtures
Atomic structure and the Periodic Table
[x] Describe the structure of the atom as a central nucleus containing neutrons and protons surrounded by electrons in shells
[x] State the relative charges and relative masses of a proton, a neutron and an electron
[x] Define proton number/atomic number as the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
[x] Define mass number/nucleon number as the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
[x] Determine the electronic configuration of elements and their ions with proton number 1 to 20, e.g. 2,8,3
State that:
[x] (a) Group VIII noble gases have a full outer shell
[x] (b) the number of outer shell electrons is equal to the group number in Groups I to VII
[x] (c) the number of occupied electron shells is equal to the period number
Isotopes
[x] Define isotopes as different atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
[x] Interpret and use symbols for atoms, e.g. 12 6C, and ions, e.g. 35 17Cl –
[x] State that isotopes of the same element have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons and therefore the same electronic configuration
[x] Calculate the relative atomic mass of an element from the relative masses and abundances of its isotopes
Ions and ionic Bonds
[x] Describe the formation of positive ions, known as cations, and negative ions, known as anions
[x] State that an ionic bond is a strong electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions