Atomic Basics
What are the three subatomic particles found in an atom?
Protons, neutrons and electrons
What is the maximum number of electrons that can fit in the first (innermost) shell?
2
What do we call a positively charged ion?
Cation
What two general types of elements combine to form an ionic compound: metal + ____?
Non-metal
In the lattice model, what word describes the repeating 3D pattern that ions arrange themselves into?
Lattice
Which subatomic particle is found in the nucleus and has no electric charge?
Neutron
Write the electron shell arrangement for Sodium (atomic number 11).
2, 8, 1
What do we call a negatively charged ion?
Anion
What is the electrovalency (charge) of an aluminium ion, Al³⁺?
+3
Name one physical property of ionic compounds observed in class (e.g. from the lattice model discussion).
Can be: solid at room temperature, high melting point, dissolves in water, conducts electricity when dissolved
True or False: Electrons are found inside the nucleus?
False
Write the electron shell arrangement for Oxygen (atomic number 8).
2, 6
Does a metal atom usually lose or gain electrons to form an ion?
It loses electrons
In Sodium Chloride, NaCl, what is the ratio of sodium ions to chloride ions?
1:1
In a molymod kit, what do the balls and the sticks represent?
Elements and bonds
A neutral atom has 13 protons. How many electrons does it have?
13 electrons
What happens to an atom's reactivity when its outer shell is full?
What happens to an atom's reactivity when its outer shell is full?
What is the ion name (not the atom name) for Chlorine once it becomes an ion?
Chloride (Cl⁻)
Aluminium ions (Al³⁺) combine with oxide ions (O²⁻). Write the chemical formula for aluminium oxide.
Al₂O₃
When building a model of water (H₂O) with molymod, how many hydrogen atoms bond to the one oxygen atom?
2 hydrogen atoms
Why is most of the volume of an atom actually empty space?
Because the tiny nucleus is surrounded by electrons moving very fast, far away, with lots of empty space in between
Write the electron shell arrangement for Aluminium (atomic number 13).
2, 8, 3
Sodium loses one electron to form an ion. Write its correctly formatted ion symbol.
Na⁺
Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) combine with phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻). Write the chemical formula for calcium phosphate.
Ca₃(PO₄)₂
Why can't a molymod kit build a truly accurate model of a giant ionic lattice (like NaCl) the same way it builds a molecule like water?
Because an ionic lattice is a giant, repeating 3D structure made of huge numbers of ions, not a small molecule with a fixed, small number of atoms