Topic 1: Atomic structure and the periodic table – GCSE AQA Higher Chemistry revision notes

What this topic covers

Topic 1: Atomic structure and the periodic table has 3 subtopics:

• A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes
• The periodic table
• Properties of transition metals (chemistry only)

Topic 1: Atomic structure and the periodic table lessons by subtopic

20 lessons, grouped by subtopic.

A simple model of the atom, symbols, relative atomic mass, electronic charge and isotopes

• Electrical Charges in Atoms: Learn about the relative electrical charges of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and understand why atoms are electrically neutral despite containing charged particles.
• Early atomic models: from spheres to plum pudding: Explore how the discovery of electrons changed our understanding of atoms, from indivisible spheres to Thomson's plum pudding model, and learn how scientific models evolve with new evidence.
• The nuclear model: Rutherford's breakthrough: Discover how alpha particle scattering experiments revealed the nuclear structure of atoms and led to the replacement of the plum pudding model with the nuclear model.
• Refining the atom: Bohr, protons and neutrons: Learn how Bohr improved the nuclear model with electron orbits, and how later discoveries of protons and neutrons by scientists like Chadwick completed our modern atomic picture.
• Understanding Relative Atomic Mass: Learn how relative atomic mass is calculated as an average value that accounts for the abundance of different isotopes of an element, including worked examples and practice calculations.
• Electronic Structure and Energy Levels: Learn how electrons occupy energy levels in atoms, starting from the innermost shells. Understand how to represent electronic structure using numbers (e.g., 2,8,1 for sodium) and diagrams. Practice writing electronic configurations and interpreting them in terms of energy levels or shells.
• What are mixtures and their properties: Learn what mixtures are, how they differ from compounds, and understand that substances in mixtures keep their individual chemical properties unchanged.
• Separation techniques for mixtures: Explore the physical processes used to separate mixtures including filtration, crystallisation, simple distillation, fractional distillation and chromatography, understanding that these methods don't create new substances.

The periodic table

• Introduction to Group 1 Elements - The Alkali Metals: Explore why Group 1 elements are called alkali metals and how their single outer electron determines their characteristic properties. Learn to explain the connection between electron structure and Group 1 properties.
• Reactions of Group 1 Elements: Investigate the reactions of lithium, sodium and potassium with oxygen, chlorine and water. Observe patterns in reactivity and learn to describe these important chemical reactions.
• Predicting Group 1 Trends: Use understanding of Group 1 trends to predict properties of unfamiliar alkali metals. Apply knowledge of how reactivity increases down the group to make scientific predictions.
• Understanding the Periodic Table Structure: Learn how the periodic table is organized by atomic number and why elements are arranged in groups and periods with similar properties occurring at regular intervals.
• Groups and Chemical Properties: Explore how elements in the same group have the same number of outer electrons, giving them similar chemical properties, and learn to predict reactions and reactivity from periodic table positions.
• Introduction to Group 7 Halogens: Explore the structure and basic properties of Group 7 elements, understanding why halogens have similar chemical behavior due to their seven outer electrons and molecular structure.
• Trends in Group 7 Properties: Investigate how physical and chemical properties change down Group 7, including melting points, boiling points, and reactivity patterns, and learn to predict properties from these trends.
• Noble Gases: Structure and Unreactivity: Learn why Group 0 elements are called noble gases, understand their electron arrangements, and discover how their stable outer shells make them unreactive.

Properties of transition metals (chemistry only)

• Introduction to Transition Metal Properties: Explore the characteristic properties of transition metals including variable charges, coloured compounds, and catalytic activity. Learn how these properties make transition metals unique and useful in chemistry.
• Transition Metal Examples: From Chromium to Copper: Examine specific examples of transition metal compounds using Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu to demonstrate variable charges, coloured compounds, and catalytic properties in real chemical systems.
• Properties of Transition Metals vs Group 1 Elements: Compare and contrast the physical and chemical properties of transition metals with Group 1 elements, focusing on melting points, densities, strength, hardness and reactivity patterns.
• Examples of Transition Metal Properties: Explore specific examples of transition metal properties using chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper to illustrate the general characteristics discussed.

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More in this course

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