Download Elements and the Periodic Table

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Atomic Mass
The average mass of
one atom of an
element.
Periodic Table A chart of the
elements showing the
repeating pattern of
their properties.
Nucleus
The central core of an
atom containing
protons and usually
neutrons.
Proton
A small, positively
charged particle in the
nucleus of the atom.
Neutron
A small particle in the
nucleus of the atom,
with no
electrical charge.
Electron
A tiny, negatively
charged particle that
moves around the
nucleus of an atom.
Atomic Mass
Unit (amu)
A unit used to
measure the mass of
particles in atoms; a
proton or neutron has
a mass of 1 amu.
Atomic Number The number of
protons in the nucleus
of an atom.
Chemical Symbol A one-or two-letter
representation of an
element.
Group
Elements in the same
vertical column of the
periodic table; also
called family.
Family
Elements in the same
vertical column of the
periodic table; also
called group.
Period
A horizontal row of
elements in the
periodic table.
Valence Electron
One of the electrons
farthest away from the
nucleus of the atom;
these electrons are
involved in a chemical
reaction.
Malleable
A term used to
describe material that
can be hammered or
rolled into shape.
Ductile
A term used to
describe a material
that can be pulled out
into a long wire.
Conductor
A substance that
transmits heat or
electricity easily.
Magnetic
A characteristics of
those metals that are
attracted to magnets
and can be made into
magnets.
Reactivity
The ease and speed with
which an element or
compound combines with
other elements and
compounds.
Corrosion
The gradual wearing
away of a metal due to
a chemical reaction.
Alloy
A mixture of two or
more metals.
Alkali Metal
An element in group 1
of the periodic table.
Alkaline Earth An element in group 2
of the periodic table.
Metal
Transition Metal An element in groups
3 through 12 of the
periodic table.
Lanthanide
An element in the first
row of the rare earth
elements in the
periodic table.
Actinide
An element in the
second row of the rare
earth elements in the
periodic table.
Nonmetal
An element that lacks
most of the properties
of metals.
Diatomic
Molecule
A molecule composed
of two atoms.
Halogen Family The elements in
Group 17 of the
periodic
table.
Noble Gas
An element in group
18 of the periodic
table.
Metalloid
An element that has some
of the
characteristics of
metals and some of the
characteristics of nonmetals.
Semiconductor An element that can
conduct electricity
under some
conditions.
Plasma
A state of matter in which
atoms are stripped of
their electrons and the
nuclei packed closely
together.
Nuclear Fusion The process in which
smaller nuclei
combine into larger
nuclei, forming
heavier elements.
Supernova
An explosion of a
massive star.