ATOMS, ELEMENTS AND

COMPOUNDS
PART TWO
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS
An atom is the smallest particle that can take
part in a chemical reaction.
Scientists have discovered 94 different types of
atoms that occur naturally and have made 24
kinds of atoms in a laboratory.
Each type of atom is different and has different
properties.
An element is made up of identical atoms.
The atoms of each element are different.
Atoms can be split into 3 smaller particles called
subatomic or elementary particles
The three different particles are known as
- Protons
- Neutrons
- Electrons
The protons and neutrons are found together in
the centre of the atom.
The electrons orbit around the nucleus in
electron shells
Most of the atom is made up of empty space
Protons have a positive charge
Electrons have a negative charge
Neutrons have no charge.
Protons and neutrons have almost identical
masses.
They have a mass of 1 atomic mass unit.
One amu = 1.6.x 10-27 kg
= 1.6/10000000000000000000000000000 kg
The mass of an electron is about 2000 times
smaller than that of a proton and it is often
given a mass of 0.
Protons and neutrons are together known as
nucleons
Different elements have the three particles
arranged in different ways.
N.B.
The number of protons in the nucleus tells you
which element it is
All atoms of the same element have the same
number of protons
No other atoms have the same number of
protons
The number of protons in the nucleus of an
element is known as the proton (atomic)
number of that element.
Oxygen has an atomic number of 8
Carbon has an atomic number of 6
Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7
The total number of particles in the nucleus
(protons + neutrons) is known as the
nucleon(mass) number
The number of electrons in an atom is always
the same as the number of protons.
Nuclide notation
Chemists have worked out a type of shorthand
to give you information about an atom quickly
and simply
Each element has a symbol which is recognised
internationally
The chemists then write the symbol with its
atomic number and mass number as
A X
Z

This is element X
It has Z protons
It has Z electrons
It has A nucleons
It has A - Z neutrons
Find the number of protons, neutrons and
electrons of the following
1. 146C
2. 147N
3. 4220Na
4. 11H
5. 5828Fe
Electrons always fill the shells closest to the
nucleus first as this has the lowest energy.
The first shell can take two electrons
The second shell can take eight electrons
The third shell can take eight electrons
Each shell is filled before electrons go into the
next shell
The number of electrons in each shell can be
shown in 2 ways.
1. By writing the electron configuration .
- In this the number of electrons in each shell is
written one after the other, with a comma
between and a bracket round the whole set
e.g. (2,8,2)
This means there are 2 electrons in the first
shell. 8 in the second and 2 in the third shell.
There are a total of 12 electrons.
Why could it not be written as (1,7,4)?
2. Drawing a diagram
The nucleus is drawn in the middle as a dark dot.
The shells are drawn round it as circles.
The electrons in each shell are drawn as crosses
Consider hydrogen
It is written as 11H
It has one proton and one electron
The one electron can fit in the first shell closest
to the nucleus
Its electron configuration is (1)
Consider helium. It is written 42He
It has 2 electrons.
Both will fit in the same shell
Its electron configuration will be (2)
6
Li
3

It has 3 electrons
Two electrons will fit in the first shell and the
third electron must go into the second shell
It has electron configuration of (2,1)
12
C
6

Has 6 electrons
2 will fit in the first shell
4 will fit in the second shell
Its electron configuration will be (2,4)
38
K
19

It has 2 electrons in the first shell

It has 8 electrons in the second shell
It has 8 electrons in the third shell
It has 1 electron in the 4th shell
Its electron configuration is (2,8,8,1)
The electrons in the outer shell are the part of
the atom that comes in contact with other
atoms.
Therefore it is the electrons in the outer shell
that determines how an atom react.
All atoms that have the same number of
electrons in the outer shell have similar
reactions.
Atoms with one electron in their outer shell are
in Group 1
Atoms with two electrons in their outer shell are
in Group 2
Atoms with three electrons in their outer shells
are in Group 3
etc
Atoms with a full outer shell are in Group 0 (or
group 8)
They are known as the noble gases and are very
stable.
Chemical reactions take place for other atoms to
achieve the noble gas structure.
Atoms that have one shell are in Period one
Atoms that have two shells are in Period two etc.
Isotopes
Isotopes are two atoms that have
the same number of protons in the
nucleus but a different number of
neutrons
They have the same proton number but
different nucleon number
Because they have the same number
of protons they are the same element
and have identical chemical properties
Often one isotope of an element is radioactive
and therefore very rare
Examples of isotopes are
37
17Cl and 35
17 Cl

and
14
6 C and 12
6C