CLEP Chemistry provides a comprehensive overview of fundamental chemistry concepts and principles, preparing students for college-level chemistry courses.
Atoms are the tiny units that make up everything around us. Each atom contains three main particles: protons (positively charged), neutrons (neutral), and electrons (negatively charged). Protons and neutrons make up the dense nucleus at the center of the atom, while electrons orbit around it in energy levels.
The periodic table organizes elements based on their atomic number (the number of protons). Elements in the same column (group) have similar properties because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell. The table is arranged in rows (periods) and columns (groups), and it's a powerful tool for predicting how elements behave.
Electrons fill up energy levels in a specific order. The arrangement of these electrons determines an element’s chemical properties.
Hydrogen is the simplest atom with just one proton and one electron!
The periodic table helps chemists discover new elements and predict reactions, from making new medicines to designing better batteries.
Oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) are both gases, but they have different numbers of protons and electrons, giving them unique properties.
The periodic table helps scientists predict that sodium (Na) will react explosively with water, but neon (Ne) will not.
Atoms are the fundamental units of matter, and the periodic table organizes elements by their properties.