The Atomic structure:
Comparison of metals and non metals properties:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Metals
Metallic gloss – metals are usually silver
coloured except for gold and copper
Malleable and ductile
Good conductors of heat
Good conductors of electricity
Solids at room temperature with the
exception of mercury (liquid)
Characteristic metallic sound
Occur on the left hand side of the periodic
table
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Non-metals
Dull colours with different colours
Hard and brittle
Poor conductors of heat
Poor conductors of electricity
Occurs as solids, liquids or gases at room
temperature(room temperature = 25°C)
Dull sound
Occur on the right hand side of the periodic
table.
Property
Metal
Non-metal
Colour
Metals can be polished to a high gloss.
Mercury is used in the manufacture of mirrors
Some paints which are used as interior paints are
lustreless.
Malleabili
ty/brittle
Metals can be rolled out into very thin sheets
and wires e.g. aluminium foil and iron wire
Although diamonds are the hardest known substance, they
are very brittle and will shatter when hit with a hammer.
Heat
conductivi
ty
Tin mug will burn your lips while drinking hot
coffee from it. Cooking utensils are made
from metals.
A porcelain mug will not burn your lips while drinking hot
coffee. Ceramic tiles are used as insulation for the space
shuttle against over heating when returning to earth.
Electrical
conductivi
ty
All metals are good conductors of electricity.
Copper is a better conductor of electricity than
most other metals, this is why copper is used
in electric cables.
Porcelain and ceramic are mostly composed of silicon.
They are used as insulators.
Metallic
sound
Many musical instruments like trumpets, flutes
and bugles are made of copper or nickel or
silver.
Used to supress noise, because they are poor conductors of
sound.
Each statement below describes an element, write
down the name and symbol for each element
described.
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Metal used in thermometers
Metal used to make window frames.
Element with 3 protons
Yellow metal used to make jewellery
Gas needed for breathing
Metal used in electric circuits
The two elements that make up table salt.
Element with 16 protons.
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The nucleus of the atom contains protons(+) neutrons(0)
The atomic number equals the number of protons and the number of
electrons in a neutral atom.
Group I metals:
Are very reactive, there is only 1 electron in the outer most energy level,
therefore it has 1 valence electron – it readily gives 1 electron away.
Group II metals:
Is reactive, there are 2 electrons in the outermost energy level, therefore it
has 2 valence electrons – has to give 2 electrons away.
Group III metals:
Is less reactive, has 3 electrons in the outermost energy level – gives 3
electrons away.
Metals give away electrons therefore they form positive ions also known
as cations.
Group VI - non metals
They have 6 valence electrons, they gain 2 electrons so they have a
valency of 2 (8-group number)
Group VII – halogens
All halogens are diatomic, they have 7 valence electrons, therefore they
gain 1 electron so they have a valency of 1
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Non metals accept electrons, therefore forming negative
ions, also known as anions.
Valence electrons:
Is the number of electrons in the outermost energy level
Valency:
Is the number of electrons that an atom must lose or gain or
share in order to achieve a perfect octet in the outer most
energy levels.
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The inner most energy level can only accommodate 2
electrons as it is so small, all other energy levels can
accommodate a maximum of 8 electrons per energy level.
For example:
Hydrogen has an atomic number of 1 so it only has 1 proton
in the nucleus
The mas number indicates the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus *the number of
particles in the nucleus)
Neutrons =
Mass no is the big number in the periodic table, and the atomic number is the small number in the
periodic table
For example
Look at the little box to see how beryllium is
written, it has a mass no of 9(amounts of protons and neutrons in the nucleus) and an atomic
number of 4 (Amount of protons only)
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Something interesting to remember when
working with neutral atoms and having to
draw them:
The number of electrons that are supposed to
be in the outer most energy level is always the
same as the group that that element is found in,
so if for example you are drawing the atomic
structure of oxygen, it is in group 6, so there
needs to be 6 electrons in the outermost energy
level. Oxygen is in period 2, and that indicates
the number of energy levels that your drawing
needs to have.
Look at picture below of oxygen:
Note the number of electrons in the outer energy
level, and the number of energy levels
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Now draw the atomic structures of the following
elements using your periodic tables as a reference.
He (Helium)
Na (Sodium)
C (carbon)
P (Phosphorous)
Remember first energy levels can accommodate a
maximum of 2 electrons, other energy levels can
accommodate a maximum of 8 electrons. Indicate your
protons in the nucleus with a small circle with a + in it,
and the neutrons with blank small circles, also give the
symbol next to your drawing indicating the Mass no on
top left side of your symbol and your Atomic no
bottom left side of your symbol as indicated in
beryllium example.