Chapter 2: The Building Blocks of Matter: Atoms, Elements, and the Periodic Table
The chapter explores the fundamental building blocks of matter, focusing on atoms and their organization within the Periodic Table. It traces the historical evolution of atomic theory, introducing key figures such as Dalton, Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr, while detailing the structure of atoms, including protons, neutrons, and electrons. The chapter emphasizes the significance of atomic number, mass number, and isotopes, as well as the predictive qualities of the Periodic Table in understanding the elements and their properties.
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What we have learnt
- Atoms are the basic units of matter, composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- The atomic number indicates the number of protons, which determines the identity of an element.
- Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.
- The Periodic Table organizes elements based on increasing atomic number and chemical properties.
- Trends in reactivity and properties can be observed within groups of the Periodic Table.
Key Concepts
- -- Atom
- The smallest unit of an element, comprising protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- -- Atomic Number
- The total number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, determining the element's identity.
- -- Mass Number
- The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
- -- Isotope
- Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
- -- Periodic Table
- An organized chart of elements arranged by atomic number, which displays predictable trends in chemical properties.
Additional Learning Materials
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