Question 1

What is the periodic table?

Accepted Answer

A table of all the chemical elements, displayed in rows and columns

Organized in order of atomic number

Question 2

What is an element's symbol?

Accepted Answer

An abbreviation for an element's name

(O for oxygen, He for helium, K for potassium)

Question 3

How do you read an element on the periodic table?

Accepted Answer

The number on the topic is the atomic number, the middle letter is the symbol, and the bottom is the atomic mass

Question 4

What are groups and periods on the periodic table?

Accepted Answer

Groups are vertical columns (similar properties)

Periods are horizontal rows

Question 5

What are metals?

Accepted Answer

Elements that tend to lose electrons to form cations

(usually found on the center and left of the periodic table; low ionization energy)

Question 6

What are nonmetals?

Accepted Answer

Elements that usually gain electrons to form anions

(located on the top right of the periodic table; high ionization energy; dull and will shatter)

Question 7

What are metalloids?

Accepted Answer

Elements with properties in between metals and nonmetals

(found between metals and non-metals on the periodic table)

Periodic Table, AP Chemistry Flashcards