Atomic Structure
An element’s atomic structure refers to its arrangement and behavior of electrons; understanding this information is vital in order to comprehend chemical bonding processes.
Atoms are widely acknowledged to be the smallest particles of matter and cannot be created or destroyed. According to John Dalton’s atomic theory, chemical reactions involve rearrangements of atoms which then transforms into new matter.
An atom is made up of a small nucleus made up of positively charged protons and neutral neutrons surrounded by a larger volume containing negatively charged electrons. Protons and neutrons carry strong forces which bind them together inside the nucleus; on the other hand, negatively charged electrons attract one another due to opposite electrical charges, drawing them together in what are known as electron shells of an atom; each shell holds different numbers of electrons; see diagram.
Chemical Bonding
Chemistry stands apart from its sister science physics in terms of its understanding of bonds between atoms. While physics concentrates on individual particles’ behaviors, chemistry deals with their accumulation into chemical species held together through bonds.
Bonding works on the assumption that atoms strive for their lowest energy state possible by filling their valence shell with electrons or satisfying the octet rule (a total of eight valence electrons). To accomplish this goal, they must share, gain or lose electrons – an action best accomplished through bond formation. Strong bonds hold molecules together while weaker ones form temporary connections between atoms that bump or brush against one another – both types are essential parts of life.
Chemical Reactions
Chemical Reactions are integral parts of technology, culture and life itself. From burning fuels and smelting iron to producing glass and pottery – chemical reactions play an integral part in many everyday applications as well as occurring naturally within our bodies during digestion, growth and reproduction processes.
Chemical reactions occur when chemical bonds break apart to form new substances. The original materials known as reactants become the products, while reactants’ constituent atoms become products. Chemical reactions follow the law of conservation of mass, which states that total number of atoms remain constant both before and after reaction occurs.
Mnemonics can be an effective way to memorise chemical reactions quickly. Start by writing out all of the inorganic chemistry reactions and trends in that group’s periodic table in a notebook and repeat them daily, taking note of colors of precipitates, electronegativity patterns in that group, ore names and flame test colours etc.
Periodic Table
The modern periodic table is an ordered list of 118 known chemical elements. This allows scientists to quickly visualize relationships among them and predict properties of new or undiscovered elements. Each element listed includes its name, atomic number and symbol; additionally it shows periodic trends between similar properties among multiple elements – which scientists refer to as periodicity.
As you peruse the periodic table, keep this in mind: each row increases or decreases while columns can move left or right. Metals tend to appear on one side while nonmetals on the other; moving down one period adds one electron shell.
Each vertical column represents a group of elements with similar properties, including alkali metals, transition metals, post-transition metals, metalloids and noble gases. Their placement within these groups gives valuable information about their characteristics as well as how they will react in chemical reactions with other elements in the periodic table.