Chapter 4 - The structure of the atom Worksheet 1

1. Fill the blanks in the following table

Number of Number of Number of Nuclear

Mass number
neutrons electrons protons Symbol

27 13 13 40

55
31 24 24 55 24 Cr

24
12 12 12 24 12 Mg

20 20 20 40

2. Data for Chromium’s four naturally occurring isotopes are provides in the following table.
Calculate chromium’s atomic mass (show your work).

Chromium Isotope data

Isotope Percent Abundance Mass (amu)
Cr-50 4.35 49.946
Cr-52 83.79 51.941
Cr-53 9.50 52.941
Cr-54 2.36 53.939

49.946*.0435= 2.172651
51.941*.8379= 43.5213639
52.941*.0950= 5.029395
53.939*.0236= 1.2729604

Weighted Average Atomic Mass- 2.172651+43.5213639+5.029395+1.2729604 ≈ 51.996

3. Gallium, which has an atomic mass of 69.723 amu, has two naturally occurring isotopes, Ga-
69 and Ga-71. Which isotope occurs in greater abundance? Explain.
Ga- 71 occurs in greater abundance because it has more neutrons.

4. Which one of the following is not one of the postulates of Dalton’s atomic theory?
A) Atoms of an element are not changed into different types of atoms by chemical reactions.
B) All atoms of a given element are identical to each other and different from those of other
elements.
C) During a chemical reaction, atoms are changed into atoms of different elements.
D) Each element is composed of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms.

5. Which of the following statements from Dalton's atomic theory is no longer true, according to
modern atomic theory?
A) Elements are made up of tiny particles called atoms.
B) Atoms are not created or destroyed in chemical reactions.
C) All atoms of a given element are identical.
D) Atoms are indivisible in chemical reactions.
E) All of these statements are true according to modern atomic theory.