Topic 4

Element Symbols The names of elements that were discovered in the 19 th century came from many different sources. The first chemist to report a new element had the right to name it. Polonium was named after Poland, Marie Curie’s country of birth Uranium was named after the planet Uranus Einsteinium was name after Albert Einstein Instead of writing these names out, chemists developed symbols

Element Symbols Some elements use the first letter of their name Ex. Hydrogen – Some elements use the first two letters of their name Ex. Calcium - Some elements use two letters from their name Ex. Magnesium - Some elements use letters from their Latin name Ex. Lead – (Plumbum)

Sorting Elements Metals Shiny, malleable, ductile. They conduct electricity Non-metals Can be a solid or a gas Solid non-metals are dull and brittle. Most non-metals do not conduct electricity Metalloids Have both metallic and non-metallic properties.

Chemical Families Alkali Metals Group 1 on the periodic table So reactive that they need special storage Only have 1 electron in their outer shell dded dded Alkaline Earth Metals Group 2 on the periodic table Reactive, but not as reactive as Alkali metals Halogens Group 17 on the periodic table React vigorously with other elements, so they are naturally found in compounds Noble Gases Group 18 on the periodic table Very unreactive – their outer shells are full of electrons

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