Atomic Structure

What Is an Atom?

Atoms are often referred to as the building

blocks of matter.

Each element on the periodic table is

composed of one type of atom and cannot
be broken down into a simpler substance.
What Is an Atom?

Atoms are composed of smaller

subatomic particles such as the proton,
neutron, and electron.

Atoms contain a nucleus surrounded by

an electron cloud that consists of one or
more energy levels.
 Inner Structure of an
Atom
• Nucleus - Small, dense, positively
charged center of the atom which
contains most of the atom’s mass
Inner Structure of an Atom
• The nucleus contains the following
subatomic particles:

Protons - positively (+) charged

particles
Neutrons - particles that have no
charge (neutral), but contribute to the
atom’s mass
Decoding Atom Information
from the Periodic Table
Atomic
Number
(Z)
Atom’s
Symbol
Atom’s
Name
Atomic
Mass
(A)
 Decoding Atom Information
from the Periodic Table

Atomic number =
Protons = Electrons 6

C
Carbon

Atomic mass =
protons + neutrons
12.0
 Remember!
1. Atomic Number (Z) =
Protons (p+) = Electrons
(e )
-

2. Atomic Mass (A) = Protons

(p+) + Nuetron (n )
o
Determining the number of
protons and neutrons
1. LITHIUM
p+ = 3 Z =3
e- = 3 A =7
no = 7-3 = 4 NOTE: (A - p+)

2. NEON
p+ = 10 Z = 10
e- = 10 A = 20
no = 20 - 10= 10
What about the electrons?
The electrons are equal to
the number of protons
◦ So,
Z = p+ = e-
Ex: Helium has a mass # of 4
and an atomic # of 2
◦ p+ = 2 Z =2
◦ e- = 2 A=4
◦ no = 2
 Determine the number of
subatomic particles in the
following:
1. CHLORINE (A = 35, Z = 17)
p+ = 17, e- = 17, no = 18

2. POTASSIUM (A = 39, Z = 19)

P+ = 19, e- = 19 , no = 20
Gear It Up!
1. Bismuth
Z =
83
A =
209
p+ = 83
e = 83
-

no = 126
Gear It Up!
2. SILICON
Z = 14
A = 28
p+ = 14
e =
-
14
no = 14
Gear It Up!
3. NITROGEN
Z = 7
A = 14
p+ = 7
e =
-
7
no = 7
 What are the
subatomic particles
inside an atom?
What type of charge
does a proton have?
 Which two
subatomic particles
are located in the
nucleus of an atom?
 Atom Characteristics
The number of protons in the nucleus is
the atomic number of that atom. Protons
are used to identify elements.

Theatomic number represents the

number of protons (+) and is equal to the
number of electrons (-).