ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND

INTERATOMIC BONDING

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Name the two atomic models cited, and note the differences between them.
2. Describe the important quantum-mechanical principle that relates to electron
energies.
3. (a) Schematically plot attractive, repulsive, and net energies versus interatomic
separation for two atoms or ions (b) Note on this plot the equilibrium separation
and the bonding energy.
4. (a) Briefly describe ionic, covalent, metallic, hydrogen, and van der Waals bonds.
(b) Note which materials

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INTRODUCTION
Geometrical atomic arrangements, as well as interactions
between constituent atoms or molecules, are responsible for some of
the most essential features of solid materials. This considers several
fundamental and important concepts, such as atomic structure,
electron configurations in atoms and the periodic table, and the
various types of primary and secondary interatomic bonds that hold
together the atoms that make up a solid, in order to prepare for
subsequent discussions.

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FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
Each atom is made up of a tiny nucleus made up of protons and
neutrons that is surrounded by moving electrons. Electrons and
protons are both electrically charged, with a charge magnitude of
C for electrons and positive for protons; neutrons are
electrically neutral. These subatomic particles have infinitesimally small
masses; protons and neutrons have almost the same mass,
kg, which is substantially greater than the mass of an electron,
kg.

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 BOHR’S MODEL OF AN ATOM

Electron:
Neutron:

Proton:

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 BOHR’S MODEL OF AN ATOM

Proton and neutron together form the nucleus.

Number of electron = number of proton (maintain neutrality of atom)

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SOME DEFINITIONS
Atomic Number (Z): Number of Proton
Atomic mass (A): Number of Proton + Number of Neutron
Mole:
Isotope: Same Z, different A

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 BOHR’S MODEL OF AN ATOM

Electrons around nucleus in fixed orbit.

Energy of electron quantized.
Energy states.
Drawbacks led to wave-mechanical model.

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ATOMIC MODEL:WAVE-MECHANICAL MODEL

Electron probability around nucleus

Electron cloud
Electron dual nature: wave & particle

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QUANTUM NUMBERS
Each electron’s state is characterized by 4 quantum numbers.
• Principal Quantum Number (n) : Signifies shell, distance from
nucleus (K, L, M, N, ….. Or 1, 2, 3, 4)
• Azimuthal Quantum Number (l): Signifies subshell, shape of
arbital (s, p, d, f…. l = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4)

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QUANTUM NUMBERS
Each electron’s state is characterized by 4 quantum numbers.
• Magnetic Quantum Number (m) : Number of energy state per
subshell in magnetic field, subshell split (m = -l to +l, including 0)
• Spin Quantum Number (s): Signifies the spin angular
momentum 2 possible spin orientation +1/2 and -1/2

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QUANTUM NUMBERS

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QUANTUM NUMBERS

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ARRANGEMENT OF ELECTRONS
Driving Principles:
• Pauli’s Exclusion Principle – No 2 electrons can have all 4
quantum numbers same in atom, same state electron have
opposite spin

n=2
l = 0 or s l = 1 or p
m=0 m=-1,0,1
s=+1/2, s=-1/2 s=+1/2, s=-1/2

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ARRANGEMENT OF ELECTRONS
Driving Principles:
• Aufbau’s Principle – Electrons fill the lowest available energy
level before filling higher levels
• (n+1)rule

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ARRANGEMENT OF ELECTRONS
Driving Principles:
• Hund’s Rule – Every orbital in a particular sublevel is initially
occupied by single electron before any orbital is doubly
occupied. Such single occupied electrons have the same spin.

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BINDING FORCE
Repulsive Force
Attractive Force
• Metallic Bonding
• Ionic Bonding
• Covalent Bonding

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BINDING FORCE

The dependence of repulsive, attractive, and net forces on interatomic separation for two
isolated atoms.

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BINDING FORCE

The dependence of repulsive, attractive, and net potential energies on interatomic

separation for two isolated atoms.

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DEPENDENCE ON TYPE OF ATOM

• The magnitude of binding energy is a material property.

• The potential energy-interatomic distance is also material
dependent.

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PRIMARY BONDS
The bonds between atoms can be:
1. Primary bond
2. Secondary bond

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PRIMARY BONDS
Primary bond properties:
• Stronger bonds than secondary bond
• Primary bonds or chemical bonds involve valance electron
• Nature depends on the atoms

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PRIMARY BONDS
Primary bond types:
• Ionic Bond
• Covalent Bond
• Metallic Bond

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IONIC BOND
Normally in compounds having both metallic and non-metallic
atoms

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IONIC BOND
• Coulumbic force of attraction between the atoms.
• Non-directional in nature.
• Bonding energy relatively large – high melting point, hard,
brittle, good insulators.
• Most of them dissolve in water, thereby conduct electricity.
• Ceramics mainly have ionic bond.

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COVALENT BOND
• Formed by sharing electrons, that is why both atom contribute
electron to the bond

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COVALENT BOND
• Directional in Nature
• Most interatomic bonds are partially ionic and partially
covalent
• The strength of bond varies greatly – Bismuth has a quite low
melting point while Diamond has a very high melting point

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METALLIC BOND
• Found in metals and metallic alloys

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METALLIC BOND
• Non-directional in nature.
• Bond energy and melting point varies greatly.

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BOND AND PROPERTY RELATION
• Property of materials are influenced by type of bond.
• For example in electrical conductivity
• Covalent materials are insulator since no free electron is
available
• Ionic materials are generally insulator but on dissolving in water,
ions are free to move and conduct electricity
• Metallic materials have “sea of electrons” which are free to move
throughout the materials, hence conducts electricity.

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