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of discrete units called atoms, as opposed to the earlier concept which held that matter could be divided into any arbitrarily small quantity. It began as a philosophical concept in ancient Greece (Democritus) and India (Anu, Parmanu in Vedas) and entered the scientific mainstream in the early 19th century when discoveries in the field of chemistry showed that matter did indeed behave as if it were made up of particles. Development of Atomic Theory Early Atomic Theory The atomic theory, which holds that matter is composed of tiny, indivisible particles in constant motion, was proposed in the 5th cent. B.C. by the Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus and was adopted by the Roman Lucretius. However, Aristotle did not accept the theory, and it was ignored for many centuries. Interest in the atomic theory was revived during the 18th cent. following work on the nature and behavior of gases (see gas laws).
With many of the problems of individual atomic structure and behavior now solved, attention has turned to both smaller and larger scales. On a smaller scale the atomic nucleus is being studied in order to determine the details of its structure and to develop sources of energy from nuclear fission and fusion (see nuclear energy), for the atom is not at all indivisible, as the ancient philosophers thought, but can undergo a number of possible changes. On a larger scale new discoveries about the behavior of large groups of atoms have been made (see solid-state physics). The question of the basic nature of matter has been carried beyond the atom and now centers on the nature of and relations between the hundreds of elementary particles that have been discovered in addition to the proton, neutron, and electron. Some of these particles have been used to make new types of exotic "atoms" such as positronium (see antiparticle) and muonium (see muon).
An atom is the smallest building block of matter. Atoms are made of neutrons, protons and electrons. The nucleus of an atom is extremely small in comparison to the atom. If an atom was the size of the Houston Astrodome, then its nucleus would be the size of a pea.
There are two main classifications in the periodic table, "groups" and "periods." Groups are the vertical columns that include elements with similar chemical and physical properties. Periods are the horizontal rows. Going from left to right on the periodic table, you will find metals, then metalloids, and finally nonmetals. The 4th, 5th, and 6th periods are called the transition metals. These elements are all metals and can be found pure in nature. They are known for their beauty and durability. The transition metals include two periods known as the lanthanides and the actinides, which are located at the very bottom of the periodic table. The chart below gives a brief description of each group in the periodic table.
Group 1A
Known as Alkali Metals Very reactive Never found free in nature React readily with water Known as Alkaline earth elements All are metals Occur only in compounds React with oxygen in the general formula EO (where O is oxygen and E is Group 2A element) Metalloids Includes Aluminum (the most abundant metal in the earth) Forms oxygen compounds with a X2O3 formula Includes metals and nonmetals Go from nonmetals at the top of the column to metals at the bottom All oxygen form compounds with a XO2 formula All elements form an oxygen or sulfur compound with E2O3 or E2S3 formulas Includes oxygen, one of the most abundant elements. Generally, oxygen compound formulas within this group are EO2 and EO3 Elements combine violently with alkali metals to form salts Called halogens, which mean "salt forming" Are all highly reactive Least reactive group All elements are gases Not very abundant on earth Given the name noble gas because they are not very reactive
Group 2A
Group 3A
Group 8A