ASVAB Practice

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Atomic number = number of protons (defines the element). Mass number = protons + neutrons. Isotopes = same element (same protons), different neutrons → same chemical properties, different mass.

Periodic table: - Periods (rows): same number of electron shells. - Groups (columns): same number of valence electrons → similar chemical properties. - Noble gases (Group 18, far right): full valence shells → very unreactive. - Metals (left) → metalloids (diagonal) → nonmetals (right).

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