Unit 2 The Periodic Table, Periodic Trends, and Nuclear Chemistry
California Standard Sets 1 and 11.
Learning Objectives
The periodic table displays the elements in increasing atomic number and shows how periodicity of the
physical and chemical properties of the elements relates to atomic structure.
a. Students will know how to relate the position of an element in the periodic table based its atomic
number and mass
b. Students will know how to use the periodic table to determine its atomic number and mass.
c. Students know how to use the periodic table to identify alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition
metals, halogens, noble gases, and trends in ionization energy, electronegativity and atomic/ionic
radius.
d. Students will know how to use the periodic table to determine the number of electrons available for
bonding (valence electrons).
e. Students will know the nucleus of the atom is much smaller than the atom yet contains most of its
mass, and that most of the volume of an atom is contained in the surrounding electron cloud.
f. Students will be able to determine the number of protons, neutrons, and total electrons given one of
two isotopic notations (i.e., 126C or Carbon-12).
g. Students will know the forces holding an atom together: strong nuclear force, electromagnetic
(electrostatic) attraction, or repulsion. The energy released when an atom is split is immense (E=mc2).
h. Students will know that some isotopes are unstable, which can lead to nuclear decay, which in turn
produces a new element and radiation.
i. Students will know the difference between nuclear fission and fusion.
j. Students will know the three common types of nuclear radiation: alpha, beta, gamma; and their
penetrating ability.
k. Students will know how radioactive half-lives are determined and balancing nuclear reactions.
Key Vocabulary Terms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Electronegativity
Electron affinity
Ionization Energy
Atomic/Ionic Radius
Valence Electrons
Halogens
Atom
Element
Ion
10. Subatomic Particles
11. Electron
12. Proton
13. Neutron
14. Nucleus
15. Isotopes
16. Orbitals
17. Atomic Number
18. Mass Number
19. Periodic Table
20. Semi-Metals or Metalloids
21. Metals
22. Non-Metals
23. Family or Group
24. Period
25. Alkali Metals
26. Alkaline-Earth Metals
27. Transition Metals
Concepts
1. Structure of an atom: protons, neutrons, electrons
2. Penetrating ability of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
3. Half-life calculations
Skills
Balance nuclear reactions and predicting decay products using the Law of Mass Conservation
Lab
Flame Test