Matter and Elements Chapter Quiz

Study Notes

Matter and Elements

Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass.
Elements are unique forms of matter with specific chemical and physical properties that can't be broken down into smaller substances by ordinary chemical reactions.
There are 118 elements, but only 98 occur naturally.
Each element is designated by a chemical symbol.
The four elements common to all living organisms are: oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N).

The Structure of the Atom

The smallest unit of matter retaining the element's chemical properties is the atom.
An atom is composed of two regions: the nucleus, located at the atom's center, containing protons and neutrons; and the outermost region which holds electrons in orbit around the nucleus.
Protons carry a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons carry a negative charge.
Protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus of the atom, while electrons orbit around the nucleus in orbitals.
The number of protons determines the element's atomic number.
The number of neutrons is variable, leading to isotopes with different mass numbers.
The mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons.
Atomic mass is the calculated mean of the mass numbers for naturally occurring isotopes.
The masses of electrons are significantly smaller than protons or neutrons and are therefore ignored when calculating mass number.
Electrons have negative charges equal to the positive charges of the protons in neutral atoms.
The majority of the atom's volume is made up of empty space.

Description

Test your understanding of matter and elements in this quiz. Explore the structure of the atom, the unique properties of elements, and the role of subatomic particles. Whether you're learning about protons, neutrons, or the essential elements for life, this quiz covers it all!