THE ELEMENTS of chemistry THAT MATTER
A look at the words that define the things that make up matter
in forms larger
to smaller
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Some Other Things That Matter
Today, in the early 21st century, there are 118 pure elements listed on the Periodic Table of Elements. There are various formats of the Periodic table that are organized for specific uses.
Most of these elements are metals, such as gold, copper, iron. Metals are good conductors of electricity.
Eighteen of the elements are nonmetals, such as hydrogen and oxygen. These generally do not conduct electricity
Six are metaloids, such as boron and silicon. These are considered to be semiconductors of electricity because they are in an intermediate state between metal and non metal.
The pure elements do have the potential to become ions. The potential is measured on the periodic table by the properties of the element. These have to do with the electron of the atom. There are particles smaller than the atom, found within the atom. Three most discussed are the electron, proton, neutron since these are relative to chemical reactions. But beyond here these smaller particles become the transition point from the science of chemistry into the science of physics.
Expelling an electron from an atom requires energy to interact with the atom, and it must be a large enough amount to counteract the magnetic force exerted by the attraction between the electron and the proton in the atomic nucleus.
The electron carries the negative charge, proton is positive. So the energy that is needed to pull an electron away from an atom must be a positive charge of energy great enough to attract the electron(s) away from one atom and bring it into another. This energy input or disruption causes the reaction, which is the change of the attraction and movement of the electrons. The reaction changes both the atom that loses the electron and the atom gains the electron. Both are changed into a different substance.
Ionization energy is the type or amount of energy required to completely remove an electron from an isolated atom or ion. The Ionization Energy is always positive.
These are basic foundational concepts.
Elaboration beyond these becomes increasingly complex.
