Periodic table chemical language

In this chapter we explored many of the rudiments of chemistry, including how matter is described by its physical and chemical properties and denoted by elemental and chemical formulas. We saw how compounds are different from the elements from which they are formed and how mixtures can be separated by taking advantage of differences in the physical properties of the components. Also addressed was what a chemist means by pure and how matter can be classified as element, compound, or mixture. Lastly, we saw how elements are organized in the periodic table by their physical and chemical properties. /Jong the way, you were introduced to some of the most important key terms of chemistry. With an understanding of these fundamental concepts and of the language used to describe them, you are well equipped to continue your study of nature s submicroscopic realm. 

In Chapter 5 we will go over chemical formulas, which are really the words that make up the language of chemistry. The elemental symbols, which are shown on the Periodic Table of Elements, are the letters that make up the (words) chemical formulas. Chemical formulas combine in chemical equations to form the sentences in the language of chemistry. Before you can be expected to correctly write the chemical equations (sentences) or the chemical formulas (words), you must make sure that you are using the elemental symbols (letters) correctly. 

While there are many excellent works written about the periodic table (which are listed in the section on further resources), recent scientific investigation has uncovered much that was previously unknown about nearly every element. The Periodic Table of the Elements, a six-volume set, is intended not only to explain how the elements were discovered and what their most prominent chemical and physical properties are, but also to inform the reader of new discoveries and uses in fields ranging from astrophysics to material science. Students, teachers, and the general public seldom have the opportunity to keep abreast of these new developments, as journal articles for the nonspecialist are hard to find. This work attempts to communicate new scientific findings simply and clearly, in language accessible to readers with little or no formal background in chemistry or physics. It should, however, also appeal to scientists who wish to update their understanding of the natural elements. 

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