Learning Outcomes – Week 1

Atomic structure and properties

➢ Know the basic structure of an atom (sub-atomic particles) and discuss their basic properties and how they
are arranged in the atom.
➢ Protons, neutrons and electrons.
➢ Isotopes and mass spectroscopy.
➢ Electron configuration, quantum shells, orbitals and sub-shells.
➢ Interpret the periodic table, and identify, describe and
explain particular trends in the periodic table.
➢ Atomic and ionic radii.
➢ Nuclear shielding and effective nuclear charge.
➢ Ionisation energy.
➢ Electron affinity.
➢ Electronegativity.
Basic structure of an atom
➢ According to modern atomic theory, an atom
consists of:
➢ protons. nucleus orbitals
➢ neutrons.
➢ electrons.
➢ Look at the table to see some basic properties of
these species.

Particle Where in the Relative mass Relative

atom? (amu) charge
➢ Let’s now think about how
proton nucleus 1 +1 each of these particles affects
neutron nucleus 1 0 what we know about the
electron orbitals 1/1840 −1 atom…
 Nucleus and the proton
➢ Modern atomic theory revealed the presence of a very small nucleus containing most of
the atomic mass (protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutral)).
➢ Electrons make up most of the volume of the atom, but only a small amount of the mass.
➢ The nucleus is about 100,000 times smaller than the atomic diameter (about 10-10 m).

➢ Image credit:
➢ Chemistry 2e – Openstax.
➢ https://openstax.org/apps/image-
cdn/v1/f=webp/apps/archive/2023
0620.181811/resources/593f2076
30a46c81d03967246cae21946c2c
2277
 Protons and the atomic number
➢ The atomic number, Z.
➢ Specific for each element and the same for all atoms of that element.
➢ Equal to the number of protons in an atom.
➢ Appears above the symbol of an element.
➢ Each element has a unique chemical symbol and name.
➢ You need to be able to access this information from a periodic table.
Atomic number
7 24 35
Symbol

Relative atomic mass

N Cr Br Name

Nitrogen Chromium Bromine

14.01 51.99 79.90
Learning check
 Use your periodic table to find the following:
Number of protons in nickel
Number of protons in beryllium
Chemical symbol for potassium
Chemical symbol for silver
Name of the element with the symbol, V
Name of the element with the symbol, P
Learning check Solution
 Use your periodic table to find the following:
Number of protons in nickel 28 protons
Number of protons in beryllium 4 protons
Chemical symbol for potassium K
Chemical symbol for silver Ag
Name of the element with the symbol, V Vanadium
Name of the element with the symbol, P Phosphorus
Atoms are neutral
An atom of any element:
• is electrically neutral; it has a net charge of zero.
• has an equal number of protons and electrons.
Look at the table below to remind you of some basic properties of
protons, neutrons and electrons.
Use this information to consider why an atom always has a net charge
of zero. Particle Where in the Relative mass Relative
atom? (amu) charge
proton nucleus 1 +1
neutron nucleus 1 0
electron orbitals 1/1840 −1
Protons, neutrons and the mass number
➢ The mass number, A, represents the number of particles in the nucleus.
➢ Protons and neutrons.
➢ A = Z + the number of neutrons.
➢ Doesn’t appear on the periodic table because it applies to a single atom only.

➢ Use the table to

understand the
relationship
between Z, A and
the sub-atomic
particles.
 Learning Check
Use your periodic table 1 minute
An atom of zinc has a mass number of 65.
A. How many protons are in the nucleus?
30 35 65
B. How many neutrons are in the nucleus?
30 35 65
C. What is the mass number of a zinc atom that has 37 neutrons?
37 65 67

© 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.

 Solution
An atom of zinc has a mass number of 65.
A. How many protons are in the nucleus?
30 35 65
B. How many neutrons are in the nucleus?
30 35 65
C. What is the mass number of a zinc atom that has 37
neutrons?
37 65 67

© 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd.

Learning Check
Use your periodic table 1 minute
An atom has 14 protons and 20 neutrons.
A. What is its atomic number?
14 16 34
B. What is its mass number?
14 16 34
C. What is the element?
Si Ca Se
 Solution
An atom has 14 protons and 20 neutrons.
A. What is its atomic number?
14 16 34
B. What is its mass number?
14 16 34
C. What is the element?
Si Ca Se
Over the course of the module, you will become more familiar with the
periodic table.
Make sure you always have access to a periodic table as it is an essential
learning and teaching tool for chemistry.
 What to do now…
➢ In the next set of slides you will learn about isotopes, relative atomic mass
of an element, and how these are related.
➢ For more information and extra reading on the topics covered in these
slides, access the Openstax Chemistry 2e book.
➢ Chapter 2 - Atoms, molecules and ions.
➢ Chapter 6 - Electronic structure and periodic properties of elements.

© 2017 Pearson Education, Ltd