Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 2
MATERIALS
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MATERIALS
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Subject: Science
Class: JHS 2
Term: 1st Term
Week: 4
Grade code: B8.1.1.2.2
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: B8.1.1.2
Indicator code: B8.1.1.2.2
Theme: DIVERSITY OF MATTER
Subtheme: MATERIALS
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All the materials we use in Ghana—aluminium cooking pots, iron roofing sheets, salt, water, plastics, batteries, soap—are made of matter. Matter is built from atoms, and atoms are built from elements. Scientists organise elements in a special table called the Periodic Table so that we can predict their properties and how they form ions and molecules. Understanding how elements are arranged and how electrons are distributed helps learners explain why some materials conduct electricity, why metals form positive ions, and why salts form crystals.
A. Element, Atom, Proton, Electron (Quick Definitions) Element: A pure substance made of only one type of atom (e.g., iron Fe, oxygen O, gold Au). Atom: The smallest particle of an element that can take part in chemical change. Proton (p⁺): Positively charged particle in the nucleus. Electron (e⁻): Negatively charged particle moving around the nucleus in shells/energy levels. Atomic number (Z): Number of protons in the nucleus. In a neutral atom, number of electrons = number of protons = atomic number.
Why atomic number matters: It is the “identity card” of an element. If you change the number of protons, you change the element.
B. Arrangement of Elements in the Periodic Table (Indicator Focus) Main idea: Elements are arranged in the Periodic Table in order of increasing atomic number (increasing number of protons). How to explain it step-by-step Start from hydrogen: H has atomic number 1 (1 proton). Next is helium: He has atomic number 2 (2 protons). Then lithium: Li has atomic number 3 (3 protons). This continues across the table.
So, moving from left to right across a period (row), atomic number increases by 1 each step. Periods and Groups (Simple meaning) Period: A horizontal row. Moving across a period: atomic number increases; electrons fill shells. Group: A vertical column. Elements in the same group have similar outer electron numbers and therefore similar chemical behaviour (e.g., Group 1 metals form +1 ions).