Content overview
Candidates study the following topics:
1 States of matter
2 Atoms, elements and compounds
3 Stoichiometry
4 Electrochemistry
5 Chemical energetics
6 Chemical reactions
7 Acids, bases and salts
8 The Periodic Table
9 Metals
10 Chemistry of the environment
11 Organic chemistry
12 Experimental techniques and chemical analysis
Atoms, Elements, and Compounds: The Building Blocks of Matter
The universe, with all its complexity, is made up of simple building blocks: atoms, elements, and
compounds. Understanding these foundational concepts in chemistry is key to comprehending
the structure and behavior of matter, from the smallest particles to the vast materials that shape
our world.
Atoms: The Basic Units of Matter
1. Definition:
o An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains the chemical properties of
that element.
o Atoms are the building blocks of matter, indivisible by chemical means.
2. Structure of an Atom:
o Nucleus:
Located at the center of the atom, it contains protons and neutrons.
Protons are positively charged particles, while neutrons have no charge.
o Electron Cloud:
Electrons, which are negatively charged, orbit the nucleus in energy levels
or shells.
The attraction between the positively charged nucleus and negatively
charged electrons holds the atom together.
3. Key Characteristics:
o Atomic Number: The number of protons in an atom, unique to each element.
o Atomic Mass: The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
4. Significance:
o Atoms combine to form molecules, creating the diverse substances we observe in
nature.
Elements: The Pure Substances
1. Definition:
o An element is a pure substance made up of only one type of atom. It cannot be
broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
2. Periodic Table:
o Elements are organized in the periodic table based on their atomic number.
o Groups (columns) and periods (rows) categorize elements with similar properties.
3. Properties:
o Metals: Conduct electricity, malleable, and ductile (e.g., iron, copper).
o Nonmetals: Poor conductors, brittle when solid (e.g., oxygen, sulfur).
o Metalloids: Exhibit properties of both metals and nonmetals (e.g., silicon, boron).
4. Significance:
o There are 118 known elements, each essential for various chemical and biological
processes.
o Elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen form the basis of life.
Compounds: The Combinations of Elements
1. Definition:
o A compound is a substance formed when two or more different elements
chemically combine in fixed proportions.
o Compounds have properties different from the individual elements they are made
of.
2. Formation:
o Compounds are formed through chemical bonds:
Ionic Bonds: Formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to
another, creating charged ions (e.g., sodium chloride, NaCl).
Covalent Bonds: Formed when atoms share electrons (e.g., water, H₂O).
Metallic Bonds: Involve the sharing of free electrons among a lattice of
metal atoms.
3. Examples:
o Water (H₂O): Formed from hydrogen and oxygen.
o Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): A product of carbon and oxygen.
o Sodium Chloride (NaCl): Common table salt, made from sodium and chlorine.
4. Significance:
o Compounds are the foundation of all materials, from the air we breathe to the
food we eat and the medicines we use.
o Organic compounds, which contain carbon, are the basis of life.
