Reflection+of+science+topic+-+Atomic+Structure+&+Periodic+Table

====For term 1 Lower Secondary Science, we mainly focused on chemistry. The topics for the first few weeks of the term include Periodic Table and Atomic Structure. As the name suggest, we mainly focused on periodic table and the basic structure of an element, the atomic structure.====

====At first, Ms Nada had assigned us homework of making cards of first twenty elements on the periodic table. Why only the first twenty? This is because there are more than hundred elements on the periodic table; it is extremely hard for secondary student to learn all of them. As such, we only have to learn the first twenty elements on the periodic table in sec 2 syllabus. For this assignment, for the making of the cards to represent the elements, we had to clearly state the proton and nucleon numbers and color the element cards based on their group. And by doing this, we had learnt the difference between each element, such as their group number, arrangement of the elements in the periodic table, nucleon & proton numbers etc. We have an in-depth understanding of the topic after doing the assignment.====

====For atomic structure, we had our lesson mainly by Ms Nada showing powerpoint presentations and explaining to us each and every bits of the topic. We have learnt how to state the relative charges and approximate relative masses of protons, neutrons and an electron. This means that we have to be able to know the numbers of proton, neutron and electron by looking at diagrams of elements and periodic table. Then, we learnt electronic configuration, also known as electrons arranged in shells. For different elements, they have different energy levels. As such, they have different electronic configuration.====

====I feel that these topics are very much tedious for me because I had to memories a lot of things. These things include the relationship between group number and ionic charge of an element; describe change from metallic to non-metallic character across the periodic table. Also, the different numbers of proton, neutron and electron are very confusing. I always mixed up proton and neutron numbers. Hence, I had to work very hard to memorise and at the mean time understand the structures. Nevertheless, I feel that these topics are very important as they are the basics we have to know before advancing to other more advanced topics such as bonding etc.====