Atom, Ions and Molecules

Structure of the Atom

• Atom contain three sub atomic particles called
protons, neutrons and electrons
• The protons and neutrons are found in the 
nucleus at the centre of the atom. The
electrons are arranged in shells around the
nucleus.
 Properties of sub-atomic particles
• if an atom loses one or
more electrons, it
becomes a positively
charged ion
• if an atom gains one or
• The number of electrons in an
more electrons, it
atom is always the same as the
number of protons, so atoms becomes a negatively
are electrically neutral overall. charged ion
• Atoms can lose or gain
electrons. When they do, they
form charged particles
called ions
Atomic number and mass number
The number of protons in the • The proton number is
nucleus of an atom is called shown below the
its atomic number: chemical symbol, and the
• the atoms of a particular  mass number is shown
element all have the same above.
number of protons
• the atoms of different
• In this example the atomic
elements have different number is 17 and the
numbers of protons mass (nucleon) number is
The total number of protons 35. This means that each
17 protons
17 electrons
of these atoms has:
and neutrons in an atom is 35 - 17 = 18 neutrons
called its mass number.
Chemical symbol
of chlorine-35
 Isotope
• Atoms with the same • Example
number of protons and
electrons but different
numbers of neutrons are
called isotopes.
• Isotopes have the same
element, but may have Chlorine consist of two isotopes
different properties
because of their different
masses that may change its
stability.
• Isotopes are named by
adding the number of
protons and neutrons.
 Ion
• An ion forms when an
atom gains or loses one or
more electrons.
– positive ions -formed when
atoms lose electrons
– negative ions -formed
when atoms gain electrons
Ionic bonds –chemical force
due to electrical attraction
between oppositely charged
ions.
 Molecules
• Molecules- atoms bonded together by covalent bonds
• Covalent bonds form when atoms SHARE
electrons in their outer energy level. This allows
both atoms to become full and stable.

Covalent bonds
• Most organic (coming from
living things) compounds
have covalent bonds.
• This includes sugars, fats,
proteins, and water.
Covalent Bonding
Thank You

 Exercise

1. Define the terms proton number, nucleon number and

isotopes
2. Copy table and fill in the blanks.
Atoms Proton Nucleon Number of Numbers of Numbers of
Numbers Numbers Protons Neutrons Electrons
Helium 2 4
Oxygen 8 8
Pottasium 27 13
Iodine 35 45

3. The particles present in four atoms are given in table

Atoms Nucleon Number of Numbers of Numbers of
Numbers Electrons Neutrons Protons
A 19 9 10 9 Which two atoms
B 20 10 10 10 are isotopes?
C 20 9 11 9 explain
D 21 11 10 11