Atomic Structure

LEARNING OUTCOMES
To appreciate important events in the development of the modern
theory of atomic structure
Describe the structure of atoms of atomic numbers 1 to 20 using
illustrations (include electronic configurations)
State the properties of electrons, protons and neutrons
Define atomic number and mass number
Define relative atomic mass
Interpret notations of the form a X
b
Define an isotope
List the uses of isotopes
Predict the likelihood of an atom forming a cation or anion
History of the Atom
 Atomic Structure
Structure of Atoms
An atom is the smallest particle of
an element that can ever exist
and still show the chemical
properties of that element
An atom is made up of a dense
centre called the nucleus, and
electrons occupy the shells or
energy levels around the nucleus.
The nucleus has two types of
particles called protons and
neutrons.
Atomic Structure
Structure of Atoms
The electrons are negatively
Particle Relative Relative
charged.
mass electric
The number of protons is charge
always equal to the number
of electrons, so an atom is Proton 1 +1
electrically neutral. Neutron 1 0
The relative mass and charge Electron _1_ 0 -1
of each particle is as shown 1840
in the table. Actual mass of a proton or neutron = 1.67 10-27 kg
Actual mass of an electron = 9.11 10-31 kg
 Atomic Structure
Proton Number and Mass Number

The proton number of an

atom is equal to the number
of protons in the nucleus of
the atom.
The proton number is also
called the atomic number.

The proton number of the atom shown above is 3.

 Atomic Structure
Mass Number
The mass number of an atom
is equal to the total number of
protons and neutrons in the
nucleus of the atom.
The mass number is also
called the nucleon number

The nucleon number for the atom shown is 7.

 Atomic Structure
Atomic Symbol, X
The structure of an atom can be written in symbol form as:

a c
X
Mass
Charge
number

Atomic
number b d No. of atoms in the element

E.g. What are the atomic particles found in

an atom of fluorine, 199 F ?
ANSWER: 9 protons
9 electrons
10 neutrons (19 9 =10 )
Atomic Structure
Electronic Configuration
The electronic configuration is the arrangement of
electrons in shells or energy levels within an atom

Each shell is numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on, going

outwards from the nucleus. Each shell can hold a
certain maximum number of electrons.

The maximum number of electrons each shell can hold

is given by:
1st shell = 2
2nd shell = 8
3rd shell = 8 (can hold more electrons)
4th shell = 2 (can hold more electrons)
For the First 20 Elements of the Periodic Table ONLY!
 Atomic Structure
Nucleus
Electron Configuration
1st shell
The electronic configuration P 11
represents the arrangement N 12 2nd shell
of electrons in an atom
3rd shell
(Valence Shell)
23
11 Na
The electronic configuration of the sodium atom
shown is: 2.8.1
Atomic Structure
Class Assignment
Draw the atomic structures for the first 20 elements in the Periodic
Table below, and deduce their numbers of protons, electrons and
neutrons.
Atomic Structure
Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element which have the
same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Isotopes are chemically alike in all aspects, except for their

masses. However, some isotopes are radioactive.

Hydrogen has three isotopes 11H, 21H and 31H.

21H is called deuterium, 3
1H is called tritium. Both isotopes are found in
sea water and the Sun.
Atomic Structure
Relative Atomic Mass
Chlorine exists as two main isotopes: 3517Cl (75%)
and 3717Cl (25%).
The average atomic mass of chlorine is given by the
weighted mean of the two isotopes:
0.75 x 35 + 0.25 x 37 = 35.5
Hence, in the Periodic Table the atomic mass of
chlorine is given as 35.517Cl.
This is the relative atomic mass of the chlorine atom
Relative atomic mass is defined as the weighted
average mass of the isotopes of an element relative
to 1/12th the mass of an atom of C-12
 Radioactive Isotopes
Radioactive isotopes have unstable nuclei and decay to
produce stable nuclei by emitting either particles and/or
gamma radiation.

Examples of Radioactive Isotopes:

Uranium 235 is used to generate electricity through a
process called nuclear fission in nuclear power stations.

Carbon 14 is used in carbon dating to determine the

age of the remains of dead plants and animals.

Cobalt 60 is used to kill cancerous cells by directing a

controlled beam of gamma radiation to the cells. This is
called radiotherapy.
 Radioactive Isotopes Contd

Technetium 99 is used in bone imaging in order to

detect bone abnormalities in patients.

Iodine 131 is used to detect thyroid problems in

patients. If the thyroid is not absorbing iodine properly
the gamma rays emitted by iodine 131 would be
detected.

Plutonium-238 is used to power heart pacemakers by

generating an electric current from the heat energy
liberated during radioactive decay.
Atomic Structure
Ions
In an atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, so
an atom is electrically neutral.
However, atoms can lose or gain electrons to form charged particles called
ions.

Atoms form ions so that they can have the stable electronic structure of a
noble gas such as helium, neon or argon.
A sodium atom (2.8.1), gives away its 1 outer electron to form a positively charged
sodium ion, Na+ (2.8), which has the same electronic structure as neon.
Atomic Structure
Positive and Negative Ions
If an atom gives away its outer electrons, then it has
more protons than electrons and becomes a positively
charged ion.
If an atom takes in electrons, then it has more electrons
than protons, and it becomes a negatively charged ion.
Examples:
Mg Mg2+ + 2e-
(Mg loses two electrons to form a positive ion, Mg2+)
Cl + e- Cl-
(Cl gains one electron to form a negative ion, Cl-)
Atomic Structure
Positive and Negative Ions
Atomic Structure
Ions of Metals and Non-Metals
Metals e.g. sodium, calcium and aluminium which
have less than 4 electrons in their outermost shells,
always give away electrons to form positive ions.

Non-metals like chlorine, oxygen and nitrogen which

have more than 4 electrons in their outer shell, take
in electrons to form negative ions.
Atomic Structure
Quick check 1
1. The nucleus of an atom contains ______ and _______.
2. A proton has a relative mass of _____ and a relative charge of
________ .
3. An electron has a ______ mass and a charge of ______ .
4. A neutron has a relative mass of _____ and a charge of _______ .
5. An atom of potassium is represented by the symbol 3919K. How
many protons, electrons and neutrons are there in a potassium
atom?
6. An atom of chlorine contains 17 protons, 18 neutrons and 17
electrons. Write the atomic symbol for chlorine.

Solution
Atomic Structure
Quick check 2
1. What are isotopes? Give an example of an element
with isotopes.
2. The table below shows four atoms.
Number of Number of
(a) Complete the table.
Atom Nucleon Proton
number number neutrons electrons (b) Which two atoms
A 14 6 are isotopes?
B 15 7 (c) Which atom has the
C 15 6 greatest mass?
D 16 8
Solution
Atomic Structure
Quick check 3
1. Calcium is in Period IV, Group 2 of the Periodic Table. Deduce
the electronic structure of calcium.
2. Complete the following equations:
(a) Li Li+ + __e-
(b) Mg Mg2+ + __ Element No. of No. of Formula
(c) Cl + e- ____ protons electrons of ion
(d) S + ____ S2-
(e) Al ____ + 3e- Na 11 10
3. Complete the table on the right. Ca 20 Ca2+
4. Draw the electronic structure Br 36 Br -
of the following:
(a) boron, O 8 O2-
(b) phosphorus,
(c) chloride ion,
(d) calcium ion. Solution
Atomic Structure
Solution to Quick check 1
1. The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons.
2. A proton has a relative mass of 1 and a relative charge of
+1 .
3. An electron has a negligible mass and a charge
of - 1.
4. A neutron has a relative mass of 1 and a charge
of 0 .
5. 19 protons, 19 electrons and 20 neutrons.

17Cl
6. 35
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Atomic Structure
Solution to Quick check 2

1. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons
but different numbers of neutrons.
An example of an element with isotopes is hydrogen.
2.
Atom Nucleon Proton Number of Number of
number number neutrons electrons
A 14 6 8 6
B 15 7 8 7
C 15 6 9 6
D 16 8 8 8

(b) Which two atoms are isotopes? A and C

(c) Which atom has the greatest mass? D
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 Atomic Structure
Solution to Quick check 3

1. The electronic structure of

calcium is 2.8.8.2 Element No. of No. of Formula
2. (a) Li Li+ + e- protons electrons of ion
(b) Mg Mg2+ + 2e- Na 11 10 Na+
(c) Cl + e- Cl-
Ca 20 18 Ca2+
(d) S + 2e S
- 2-

(e) Al Al3+ + 3e- Br 35 36 Br -

3. Complete the table on the right. O 8 10 O2-

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Atomic Structure
To learn more about Atomic Structure,
click on the links below!

1. http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/08365/h&patoms.htm
2. http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/3-atoms.htm
3. http://www.chem4kids.com/files/atom_structure.html
4. http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/isotopes/