Unit 2: Atomic Structure

Subatomic Particles:
- The proton
- The neutron
- The electron

Characteristics of elements are determined by the number of protons

Subatomic particle Charge Mass/amu Location

proton +1 ~1 nucleus

neutron +1 ~1 nucleus

electron -1 1/1836 ≈ 1/2000 Outside the

nucleus in the
electron cloud

Basic chemistry vocabularies definitions

● Atomic number: the number of the of the protons in the nucleus of an atom
● Mass number: A, number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
● Group: columns in periodic table (similar chemical properties)
● Period: rows in periodic table (same number of energy levels)

IB essentials:
● Unified atomic mass unit: (Non-SI unit) 1/12 mass of the carbon-12 atom in its
ground state [used to express the mass of atomic particles(1 amu or 1 u)]
○ 1 amu = 1.660539 x 10-24g
● Relative atomic mass: The ratio of the average mass of the atom to the
unified atomic mass unit
● Isotopes: Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but
different number of neutrons
● Radioisotopes: same with isotopes but radioactive
● How Covalent bond is formed: sharing of electrons between atoms
● Electronegativity: The relative measure of the tendency of an atom when
bonded in a molecule to attract a shared pair of electrons towards itself
 ● First ionization energy: the minimum energy required to remove one electron
from a gaseous atom [M(g) → M+(g) + e–]
● Periodicity: repeating pattern of physical and chemical properties
● Ionic bonding: electrostatic attraction between positive and negative ions
● covalent bonding: shared pair of electrons between atoms
● Attraction between lattice of positive metal ions and delocalised outer shell
electrons forming “sea of electrons”

Angles:
No. of 0 lone 1 lone pairs 2 lone pairs 3 lone pairs 4 lone pairs
Electron pairs
domain
geometry

Linear 180º

Trigonal 120º
planar

Tetrahedral 109.5º 107º 104.5º

Trigonal 120º, 90º

Bipyramidal

Octahedral 90º

Law of conservation of momentum: total momentum does not change

Linear momentum: mass x velocity
Newton’s second law in terms of momentum: F = change in momentum/change in
time
 Ionic Bonding Covalent Bonding Metalic
Bonding*(not
tested)

How it forms Formed between a Usuall formed

cation and an between
anion non-metals(when
the difference in
electronegativity is
less than 2)

How it works Formed from Formed from

atoms either losing atoms sharing
electrons or electron pairs with
gaining electrons each other atoms
in order to attain a to attain a noble
noble gas gas electron
configuration configuration.

Nature of bonding Electrostatic Electrostatic Attraction

(definition of the attraction between attraction between between lattice of
bonding types)[ oppositely charged a shared pairs of positive metal ions
ions electrons and the and delocalised
positively charged outer shell
nuclei electrons

Types of structure Giant ionic lattice Simple molecular

structure structure,
macromolecular
structure

Type of bonding IONIC SIMPLE METALIC

MOLECULAR
(covalent)

MACROMOLECULA
R (covalent)

Strength of bonds Smaller ions OR Shorter bonds OR Smaller metal ions

greater charge → stronger bonds OR OR greater chare
stronger bond higher number of OR more
 bonds → stronger delocalised
bond electrons →
stronger bond

boiling/melting high Simple: low

points Giant: high

volatility Low (usually Simple: may be

in solid/liquid) high (gas)

Giant: low

solubility High usually Low usually

conductivity High, ions are free No, ions are not

to move only in free to move
molten state

Enthalpy
Definitions:
● Enthalpy change of reaction: the energy change that occurs in a system when the
matter is transformed by a given chemical reaction when all reactants and products
are in their standard
○ Change in Energy when the matter is transformed through a chemical
reaction in their ground state.
○ Na(s)+Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s)
● Standard conditions: standard sets of conditions for experimental measurements to
be established to allow comparisons to be made between different sets of data.
○ The standard state of the matters to compare the differences between
different sets of data[298ºK, 1 atm]
● Enthalpy change of formation: the change of enthalpy during the formation of 1
mole of the substance from its constituent elements, with all substances in their
standard states.
○ 2Al(s)+3Cl2(g) → Al2Cl6(s)
● Enthalpy change of hydration: when 1 mole of gaseous ions dissolves insufficient
water to give an infinitely dilute solution. Always negative
○ Na+(g) → Na+(aq)
○ OH-(g) → OH-(aq)
● Enthalpy change of solution: the enthalpy change associated with the dissolution of
a substance in a solvent at constant pressure resulting in infinite dilution.
○ MgCl2(s) → Mg
● Enthalpy change of atomisation: when 1 mol of a gaseous atom is formed from its
element
● Bond energy: the measure of bond strength in a chemical bond.
● Lattice energy: a measure of the energy released when ions are combined to make a
compound.
● Electron affinity: the amount of energy released when an electron is attached to a
neutral atom or molecule in the gaseous state to form a negative ion.(opposite of
ionisation energy)