Element Basics
Smallest unit of matter
What is an atom?
This element is in Group 1, Period 3.
sodium (Na)
Elements on the left side of the periodic table are mostly ______.
metals
The symbol Na comes from the Latin word natrium. What is the element?
sodium
This element is essential for breathing.
oxygen
The center of the atom
Answer: What is the nucleus?
This element is in Group 17, Period 2
fluorine (F)
Elements that are poor conductors of heat and electricity are called ______.
nonmetals
The symbol K comes from the Latin word kalium. What is the element?
potassium
This element makes up most of the air we breathe.
nitrogen
The particles that have a positive charge
Answer: What are protons?
This element is in Group 2, Period 4.
calcium (Ca)
Elements that have properties of both metals and nonmetals are called _____
metalloids
The symbol Fe comes from the Latin word ferrum. What is the element?
iron
This metal is liquid at room temperature.
mercury (Hg)
Electrons are found in ______ around the nucleus
Answer: What are shells/energy levels
This element is in Group 18, Period 1
helium (He)
Give one example of a metalloid.
boron, silicon, arsenic, tellurium
The symbol Pb comes from the Latin word plumbum. What is the element?
lead
This gas is used in balloons because it is lighter than air.
helium
The number of protons in an atom is called the ______ number.
atomic number
This element is in Group 16, Period 3.
sulfur (S)
The “stair-step” line on the periodic table separates which two types of elements?
metals and nonmetals
The symbol Au comes from the Latin word aurum. What is the element?
gold
This element is the main component of table salt along with sodium.
chlorine (Cl)