Semester Exam Study Guide
Vocabulary
Unit 01
Unit 02
1. Subatomic particle – Particles smaller than an atom.
2. Proton- Positive-charged subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom.
Determines it’s atomic number.
3.
Neutron- Subatomic particle in the nucleus of an atom with no charge (neutral).
4. Electron- Negatively charged subatomic particle in spinning around the nucleus
of an atom.
5. Valence electron- Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom
6. Atom- Fundamental building block of all matter
7. Electron cloud- The area around the nucleus of an atom where the
electron(s)orbit the nucleus.
8. Nucleus – The center of an atom where the mass is concentrated containing
Protons (+) and Neutrons (neutral).
Essential Ideas
9. Atoms are composed of subatomic particles.
10. How are atoms structured? Atoms have a nucleus that is surrounded by an electron
cloud.
11. What are the locations, masses, and electrical charges of the subatomic particles?
The protons have a positive charge and are located in the center of the atom in the
nucleus. Neutrons have no charge (neutral) and are also located in the nucleus. The
electrons are located in the electron cloud, which surrounds the nucleus.
12. Where are valence electrons located? The outermost energy level.
13-14. How is the identity of an element determined? The number of protons determine
the atom’s identity.
15. What is the importance of protons? Protons determine the identity of an element, and
provide much of the atom’s mass.
16. Why are protons used to determine the identity of an element? All atoms of the same
element contain the same number of protons. Other subatomic particles may vary in
number.
Vocabulary
Unit 03
17. Periodic Trend – Tendency of element characteristics to increase or decrease
progressing along periods or groups of the Periodic Table
18. Atomic Number – The number of protons in an atom of a single element making
it uniquely that element
19. Reactivity- The relative tendency of an element to gain or lose an electron(s)
20. Metals – Elements of Groups 1-12
21. Valence Electrons – Electrons in outermost energy levels
22. Groups/families – Vertical columns with same # of valence electrons and behave
similarly
23. Periods – Horizontal (rows) 1 – 7 determine energy level
24. Alkali metals – Group 1, VERY reactive react violently with water
25. Nonmetals – Elements of groups 14 – 16 and Hydrogen
26 Metalloids – Elements in groups 13-17 with characteristics of metals and nonmetals
27. Noble Gases – Elements in group 18; least reactive elements
28. Transition Metals – Elements in groups 3-12.
Essential Ideas
29 What are some patterns (trends) found in the periodic table of elements? The periodic
table, arranged by atomic number, shows a tendency for properties to repeat in a periodic
pattern and can be used to predict the properties of an element.
30. How are elements on the periodic table organized? In Periods (rows) and Groups or
Families (columns), based upon the characteristics of each element.
31. How is the chemical reactivity of an element determined? The number of valence
electrons determine reactivity.
32-33. How does the arrangement of elements on the periodic table allow for the
prediction of undiscovered elements and their properties? Elements show a tendency for
properties to repeat in a periodic pattern and can be used to predict the properties of an
element
Elements are grouped into families on the periodic table.
34. How are groups of elements similar/different? They all have the same number of
valence electrons.
35. How are periods of elements similar/different? They have the same number of
energy levels.
36. How do groups and periods of elements compare? Groups all have the same number
of valence electrons; periods have the same number of energy levels.
Unit 04
Vocabulary
37. Chemical change - A change in which a substance (or substances) is changed into one
or more new substances with different properties than the original substances
38. Chemical formula - A combination of symbols and numbers that represent the
number and types of elements (atoms) present in a compound
39. Chemical equation - A combination of chemical formulas used to describe what
happens in a chemical reaction. The equation identifies the reactants and resulting
products.
40. Subscript - A small number to the right of a symbol that is written below the normal
line of letters to show how many atoms of an element are present in a substance. No
subscript means there is only one atom present.
41. Coefficient - A number written in front of a chemical formula to show how many
molecules of that substance are present
42 Product Formulas written on the right side of the arrow symbol ( ) are the new
substances formed in a chemical reaction
43. Reactant - Formulas written on the left side of the arrow symbol ( ) are the starting
substances in a chemical reaction.
44. Yield - An arrow symbol that shows a reaction has taken place. The reactants have
reacted to produce a new substance (the product).
45. Law of conservation of mass - Matter is not created or destroyed, only changed. The
number of atoms in the reactants must be equal to the number of atoms in the product.
46. Precipitate - A solid that forms as a result of a chemical reaction. It will fall to the
bottom of the container.
47. Chemical reaction - When substances interact to form one or more new substances
with different properties than the original substances.
48. Physical change - A change in which the characteristics of a substance are only
changed physically and the original properties stay the same
Essential Ideas
49.How are chemical formulas used to determine the number of atoms of each element
found in compounds? Chemical formulas can be used to determine the number of atoms
of each element found in compounds.
50. What is the purpose of a subscript in a chemical formula? Subscripts show the
number of atoms of each element that are present.
51. What is the purpose of coefficients in a chemical formula? Coefficients show the
number of molecules present.
52.-53 What evidences indicate that a new substance has formed as a result of a chemical
reaction? Chemical reactions indicate that new substances with different properties are
formed.
54. What are the components of a chemical equation? The reactants are listed on the left
side of the equation, the yield symbol indicates that they were combined, and the right
side of the equation identifies the products.
55. After a reaction, how do the reactants and products in a chemical equation compare?
The atoms of the reactants will have rearranged to form new substances (products),
though the number of atoms of each element will be the same on either side of the
equation.
56. -57 How are balanced chemical equations and the law of conservation of mass
related?
A balanced equation represents the law of conservation of mass or that every atom
present at the start of the reaction is still present at the end of the reaction.
58. What is meant by “balanced” equation? The products contain the same number of
atoms of EACH element as are on the reactant side of the equation.
Unit 05
Vocabulary
59. Acceleration A change in the direction or speed (velocity) of an object over time –
which may be:
o A change in speed
 Starting
 Stopping
 Speeding up (positive acceleration)
 Slowing down (negative acceleration)
o A change in direction
o Note: Acceleration is caused by unbalanced forces.
60. Gravity - Pull on an object exerted by the earth, with acceleration rate of 9.8 m/s2
(always).
61. Inertia - Newton’s First law of motion – The tendency of a body to resist acceleration.
o
o
An object at rest will remain at rest until acted upon by an unbalanced
force.
An object in motion will remain in motion until acted upon by an
unbalanced force
62. Net force - The total of all forces acting on a object
o
o
Forces in the same direction are added (positive acceleration).
Opposing forces are subtracted (negative acceleration).
 An object will move in the direction of the greater force.
63. Newton - Measure of force acting upon an object, measuring 1kg/m/s/s.
64. Speed - The distance an object travels in a certain amount of time.
o
o
Average speed – Total distance divided by total time
Constant speed - Speed that does not change
65. Balanced force - When all the forces acting on an object are equal (Inertia).
66. Unbalanced force - When all the forces acting on an object are not equal.
o
o
o
o
o
Cause a change in motion – this is called acceleration
Slow down - negative acceleration
Speed up – positive acceleration
Stop
Start
o
Change direction
67. Velocity – Speed in a specific direction.
68. Force - A push or pull on an object
o
o
o
Measured in units called Newtons (N)
Measured using spring scale
Forces act in pairs
 Types of Force are”
 Gravity
 Electric
 Magnetic
 Friction
 Centripetal
69. Motion - A change in the position of an object, caused by force.
Essential Ideas
Motion can be represented mathematically.
70. What is speed? Speed is the amount of time required to travel a specific distance.
Uses the formula Speed = Distance / Time. (D = S * T), (T = D / S).
71. What is velocity? Speed (Distance / time) in a specific direction.
72. What is acceleration? Any change in speed or direction.
73. How are speed, velocity, and acceleration different? Speed reflects the amount of
time to travel a specific distance, velocity is speed in a specific direction, and acceleration
is any change in speed or direction.
74. How can motion be mathematically and graphically represented? See the formulas
above. Motion is most often represented on graphs to reflect distance/time, or
speed/distance,
Unbalanced forces change an object’s motion.
75. What is motion? A change in the position of an object, caused by force.
76. What is force? A push or pull on an object.
77. How is force measured? Newton’s (N = 1kg/m/s/s).