Grade 10 IB Bridging Course

- Chemistry
Topic 1 Atomic Structure
Part 3 Electron arrangement

Chemical reactions are the processes that transforming one set of chemical
substances to another one.

During reactions, only the outermost shell / valence electron(s) is/are involved.

With respect to this, the number of protons is different from the number of
electrons and the resulting particles hence become electrically charged; they are
called ions.
Cations

● When an atom loses electron(s), it becomes positively charged and it is a

cation - as the number of protons > number of electrons.

Anions

● When an atom gains electron(s), it becomes negatively charged and it is an

anion - as the number of electrons > number of protons.

Chemical properties

The loss or gain of electrons makes a very big difference to the chemical
properties. You swallow sodium ions, Na+, every time you eat table salt, whereas
sodium atoms, Na, are dangerously reactive.

● The magnitude of the charge depends on the number of electrons lost or

gained.

● There is no change in the atomic or mass numbers of an ion because the

number of protons and neutrons remains the same.

Example

Most nutrient elements in food are present in the form of ions. The calcium ion

40
Ca2+, for example, is essential for healthy teeth and bones. Identify the

sub-atomic particles present in the ion.

Arrangement of electrons

● According to the Bohr model of atom, it shows that the electrons in the atoms

are situated in certain electron shells or “energy levels” (occupied electron

shells) moving around the nucleus.

● Each electron shell can only accommodate certain number of electrons and

they are at different distances from the nucleus.

● Bohr found that the closer an electron is to the nucleus, the less energy

needed to remove it from the atom, because it is attracted by the nucleus

more strongly.

● It is opposite to those electrons which are further away from the nucleus.

● The arrangement of electrons in an atom hence determines the chemical

properties of an element.
● The innermost electron shell is filled first.

● The outer electron shell will be filled after completely filling up the inner one.

● The last occupied electron shell is described as the outermost electron shell.

Electron shell number Maximum number of electrons accommodated (2n2)

1 2

2 8

3 18

4 32

Electron arrangement

● Represented by numbers of electrons in each shell (energy level).

● It is written from the innermost electron shell to the outermost one.

● Each number is separated by a comma, “,”.

● For example -

○ Carbon (Z = 6): 2, 4

○ Phosphorus (Z = 15): 2, 8, 5
Electrons in energy level n = 3 and 4

● Although the 3rd shell/ energy level can hold up to 18 electrons, after filling in

the 8th electron, the next two electrons will fill in the 4th shell/ energy level.

○ For example, calcium (Z = 20): 2, 8, 8, 2

● Once two electrons are filled in the 4th shell, the electrons will fill up the

remaining 3rd energy level until there are 18 electrons in the shell

(see notes P.6).

Electron diagram

● Often called ‘Dot and Cross diagram’.

● Represented by symbols.

● A circle refers to electron shell and a dot “ • ” or cross “ x ” refers to electrons.

● An atomic symbol is written at the centre of the innermost electron shell.

Notes P. 7
Noble gases - Group 0 elements

● Examples: helium, neon and argon

● Very stable and unreactive/ inert
● They have eight electrons in their outermost electron shell - an octet structure
of electrons.
● Helium has two electrons in its only electron shell - duplet structure.
● Atoms, with an electron arrangement of noble gas
(full outermost shell), will exhibit extra stability.