LANGUAGE OF CHEMISTRY

Answer the following questions:

1. Define the following terms:
a) Symbol: A symbol is a shorthand representation of an element.
b) Radical: Group of atoms of different elements behaving as a single unit
with a positive or negative charge.
c) Valency: The number of electrons that an atom can lose or gain or share
during a chemical reaction is called Valency.
d) Variable Valency: Certain elements that exhibit more than one Valency
are called variable Valency.
e) Molecular formula: Molecular formula denotes the number of atoms of
each element present in a compound.
2. State the significance of symbols.
Ans. The symbol represents the name of an element. It represents one atom
an element. Represents a definite mass of the element.
3. How did Dalton differentiate atoms of different elements?
Ans. Dalton differentiated atoms of different elements by marking in the
circles. A Group of these circles represented molecules.
4. What is the reason behind variable Valency?
Ans. An atom of an element can sometimes lose more electrons than present
in its valence shell.

Learn the symbols and valencies