All matter is made up of atoms. All solids,
liquids and gases are made up of these tiny particles.
Atoms are matter. One atom of matter takes up
very, very little space and weighs very, very little. To give you an
understanding of how small an atom is it would take almost three hundred
billion trillion atoms (300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) to make one
ounce!
Most matter is made up of two or more kinds of
atoms. Some is made up of only one kind. Any sample of matter
that is made up of only one kind of atom is called an element. Some
elements you are familiar with are copper, gold, oxygen, and iron.
Most of the known elements are found in nature. Scientists have
created the others in laboratories.
Most elements are found in the solid state. Some
are found in gasses. Only two elements - mercury and bromine - are
found as liquids at usual temperatures.
Symbols are used to identify elements. Listed
below are some you may be familiar with.
NAME
SYMBOL
Hydrogen
H
Copper
Cu
Gold
Au
Carbon
C
Nitrogen
N
Often the first letter of an element's name is the
symbol for that element. If the name of an element begins with a
letter that is already the symbol for another element the following is
used:
the first two letters, as Os for osmium, or
the first letter and some other letter from the name,
as Cl for chlorine.
The symbols for most elements are taken from their names
in other languages - mostly Greek and Latin. The Latin name for iron
is ferrum. The symbol for iron is Fe. Several
elements are named after places or famous scientists. Am for
americium and Es for einsteinium.
The symbols for the elements are the same all over the
world. It makes no difference what country you are in, or what
language is spoken there. The "language" of chemistry is
the same all over the world.
Directions: Answer the questions below about
atoms and elements.
All matter whether solid, liquid or gas is made up of
.
Most matter is made up of
or more kinds of atoms.
A sample of matter that is made up of only one kind of
atom is called an
.
Most elements are found in which state?
solid
liquid
gas
What symbol is used to identify nitrogen?
What symbol is used to identify gold?
What symbol is used to identify hydrogen?
If the name of an element begins with a
letter that is already the symbol for another element the following is
used: the first
letters, or the
letter and some other letter from the name.
The "language" of chemistry is
the
all over the world.
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