Structure of the Atom & Periodic Table

Topic Objectives

By the end of this topic, the learner should be able to:

• Name and write the chemical symbols of the first twenty elements of the periodic table;
• Describe the structure of the atom and write the electron arrangement of the first twenty elements of the periodic table;
• Explain the electron arrangement of the atom in terms of energy levels;
• Define atomic number, mass number, isotopes and relative atomic mass;
• Calculate the relative atomic masses from isotopic composition;
• Explain the position of an element in the periodic table in terms of the electron arrangement;
• Define valency and oxidation number of an element;
• Predict the type of ion formed from a given electron arrangement of an atom;
• Predict the valencies and oxidation numbers from position of elements in the periodic table;
• Derive the formulae of some simple compounds from valencies of elements and radicals;
• Write simple balanced chemical equations.