The+basics

Check out the varied content on this page to see what you already know about the basics of chemistry. Don't panic if you don't know it all! - Some may be a little abstract, hopefully entertaining and new!

__Elements:__ (substances that are formed from only one type of atom - i.e atoms with the same number of protons) Whilst there are 109 elements on most periodic tables, new elements are still being found. Because a large amount of study and testing must be done to confirm whether an element really is new it can take years between discovery and stating the presence of a new element. The latest element to be discovered, tested and named is copernicium, with symbol Cn. Copernicum has an atomic number of 112 - meaning there are 112 protons in its nucleus! It is the heaviest element found yet! Look at the following links for more info! [|Element 112] [|Named Copernicum]

//__Common Elements__// //Oxygen// - an element on the periodic table. Check this video out! It highlights the reactivity of oxygen with other elements. Consider: Why is oxygen so reactive with other elements? media type="custom" key="6389605" width="136" height="82"

Recall: Oxygen is highly electronegative - it has a strong pull on the electrons it shares in colvalent bonds. The strong electronegativity is often responsible for the reactivity of oxygen. Interested? Read [|Group 16] for more on the properties and reactivity of oxygen and other group 16 elements.

Naming and writing formulae for ionic and covalent compounds. List of common ions covered throughout the year. Being able to name and write the molecular formulae for compounds. Identifying the number of electrons, protons and neutrons in an atom by the periodic table. How to name compounds.