Structure of the ATOM

Atom
● from the word atomos meaning “indivisible”
● tiny, indivisible, indestructible particle…

John Dalton – proposed the atomic theory

- Known as the originator of the atomic theory

Dalton’s Atomic Theory:

1. All elements are composed of tiny, indivisible, indestructible particles called

atoms.
2. All matter is made up of atoms, thus permitting a variety of arrangements that
depend on the kinds of atoms being combined.
e g.
C + O2 → CO2

3. Atoms of one element are exactly alike but are different from atoms of any
other element
e. g
Ag atoms of Silver (Ag) are identical

4. The atomic mass of a particular element is different from the atomic mass of
any other element
e.g.
H=1 C = 12 O = 16

Based on Dalton’s Atomic Theory

● invention of new and increasingly powerful instruments for atomic
bombardment
e.g. cyclotron, synchrotron, Beaverton, linear accelerators and
nuclear reactors
● stimulated some chemists to
─ prepare and to analyze additional compounds and
─ search for elements, undiscovered by man

Structures of Atoms

The first atomic theory is given to the ancient Greeks, but the concept may have
had its origins in even earlier civilization.

5th Century B. C. Leucippus and Democritus

Atom – derived from Greek word “ atomos “– means indivisible or cannot
be cut further.

H2O –smooth round balls

Fire – sharp edges

19th Century: John Dalton, 1803

─ recognized as originator of the atomic theory
 ─ He conceived the idea of a different kind of atom for each
element. Different atoms for different elements were represented by
symbols such as small circles with identifying marks

H Al NH3
N Soda CO
C Potash Carbonic acid
O Copper H2SO4
S Lead
P H2O

20th Century:
J. J. Thompson, 1904
Atom is composed of a sphere of positive electricity in which are
embedded a number of electrons carrying an equivalent negative charge.

Ernest Rutherford, 1909 – 1911 (British Scientist)

Proposed that the atom must be almost completely empty space; that the
positive electricity of the atom must be concentrated in a very small volume and
that nearly all the mass of the atom must be in this small volume.. He called this
concentrated region of mass and positive charge the “nucleus of the atom” and
postulated that it must be surrounded by a swarm of electrons with enough
negative charge to make the atom electrically neutral.

Niels Bohr 1913 (Danish Physicist)

Proposed a model of the Hydrogen atom in which the electron moved in a
circular orbit around the nucleus like planets around the sun.

Erwin Schrodinger, 1926

Proposed the quantum mechanical theory – the probability of finding an
electron within the atom is high in a region known as “orbital” which can be
visualize as a three dimensional “electron cloud” about the nucleus
Modern Atomic Theory: Bohr Planetary Concept of an Atom

1. An atom is composed of tiny, core called nucleus with electrons outside the
nucleus
2. The nucleus contains protons but no electrons
3. The negative (-) charges on the electrons balances the (+) charges on the
nucleus (protons) so that an atom is electrically neutral
4. At least 99.9 % of the mass of an atom is in the nucleus
5. The electrons ar at relatively large distance from the nucleus and at constant
random motion
6. An atom is mostly empty.

e-

p+ , n

I. Electrons
Symbol: ẹ
Charge ( - )
Mass: 0.0005486 a. m. u, 9.107 x 10 -28 g
Shaape: spherical (diameter = 2 x 10 -12 cm )
ӿ moves at a certain velocity in the Energy levels

II. Nucleus
─ mass of the atom is concentrated

a. Nucleons
1. Protons
Charge: ( + )
Symbol: p+
Mass: 1.007266 a. m. u; 1.672 x 10 -24 g

2. neutrons
Charge: ( 0 ) –neutral
Symbol: ‫ח‬
Mass: 1.008665 a. m. u.; 1.675 x 10 -24 g

b. mesons 200x heavier than an e– with ( + ) and ( - ) charges. It

holds the proton and electron

c. positron positively ( + ) charged whose mass is equal to the mass

of electron

d. about 32 subparticles are present

Atomic Symbols:

Z X
where: Z = number of protons
A = mass number

Atomic number = number of protons of an atom

Number of electrons = number of protons
Number of neutrons = atomic mass - atomic number
e.g. Cr atomic mass = 52 amu
atomic number = 24
number of neutrons = 52 – 24 = 28

Moseley – discovered the atomic number

e.g. How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in a

29 Cu63 atom?

Number of protons = 29
Number of electrons = 29
Number of neutrons = A – Z = 63 – 29 = 34

Isotopes
● atoms of the same element differing in their atom masses but nevertheless
exhibit the same chemical properties
● nuclides with the same atomic number or protons or electrons but different
neutron number
e.g.
35 37
17Cl 17Cl

1 H1 1 H2 1 H3

Mass spectrometer
─ an apparatus used to compare the weights of atoms
─ gives very accurate measurement of the isotopic masses and
abundance of the different isotopes
─ permits their separation and identification

Isobars
● nuclides of same mass number

Isotones
● nuclides of same neutron number but different atomic number
e.g.

isotopes isobar isotones

e.g Write symbols for the two isotopes of silver (Ag, Z = 47), one of which has 60
neutrons and the other of which has 62 neutrons.

1) 47 = number of protons
60 = number of neutrons A = 47 + 60 = 107

2) 47 = number of protons
60 = number of neutrons A = 47 + 62 = 109

Ions – positively or negatively charged particle in which the number of electrons

does not equeal the number of protons.

Cation – positively charged ion

e.g.
Na + Ca 2+ Al 3+

Anion – negatively charged ion

e.g
Cl - S 2-

e.g. What is the composition of (a) Al 3+ b) S 2-

a) Number of proton (p) = 13

Number of neutron ( n )= 27 – 13 = 14
Number of electron ( e- ) = 13 – (3+) = 10 = number of proton –charge
of ion
● lost 3 e –

b) Number of protons (p)= 16

Number of neutron (n) = 32 -16 = 16
Number of electron (e) = number of protons – charge of ion
= 16 – ( 2- ) = 18
● gained 2 e-