Atomic Structure

LEARNING OUTCOMES
 To appreciate important events in the development of the modern theory
of atomic structure
 Describe the structure of atoms of atomic numbers 1 to 20 using
illustrations (include electronic configurations)
 State the properties of electrons, protons and neutrons
 Define atomic number and mass number
 Define relative atomic mass
 Interpret notations of the form a X
b
 Define an isotope
 List the uses of isotopes
 Predict the likelihood of an atom forming a cation or anion
History Of The Atom
 Atomic Structure
Structure Of Atoms
 An atom is the smallest particle of an element that can
exist by itself and still have the same chemical properties
as the element .
 An atom is made up of a dense centre called the
nucleus, and electrons occupy the shells or energy levels
around the nucleus.
 The nucleus has two types of particles called protons and
neutrons.
Atomic Structure
Structure Of Atoms
 The electrons are negatively
Particle Relative Relative
charged.
mass electric
 The number of protons is
charge
always equal to the number
of electrons, so an atom is Proton 1 +1
electrically neutral. Neutron 1 0
 The relative mass and charge _1_
Electron ≈0 -1
of each particle is as shown 1840
in the table. Actual mass of a proton or neutron = 1.67 × 10-27 kg Actual
mass of an electron = 9.11 ×10-31 kg
 Atomic Structure
Proton Number And Mass Number

 The proton number of an

atom is equal to the number
of protons in the nucleus of
the atom.
 The proton number is also
called the atomic number.

 The proton number of the atom shown above is 3.

 Atomic Structure
Mass Number
 The mass number of an atom
is equal to the total number of
protons and neutrons in the
nucleus of the atom.
 The mass number is also
called the nucleon number

 The nucleon number for the atom shown is 7.

 Atomic Structure
Atomic Symbol, X
 The structure of an atom can be written in symbol form as:

a c
X
Mass
Charge
number

Atomic
number b d No. of atoms in the element

 E.g. What are the sub-atomic particles found in

an atom of fluorine, 199 F ?
ANSWER: 9 protons
9 electrons
10 neutrons (19 – 9 =10 )
Atomic Structure
Electronic Configuration
 The electronic configuration is the arrangement of electrons in
shells or energy levels within an atom.

 Each shell is numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on, going outwards from

the nucleus. Each shell can hold a certain maximum number of
electrons.

 The maximum number of electrons each shell can hold is given by:
1st shell = 2
2nd shell = 8
3rd shell = 8 (can hold more electrons)
4th shell = 2 (can hold more electrons)
For the First 20 Elements of the Periodic Table ONLY!
 Atomic Structure
The First 20 Elements Of The Periodic Table
NAME OF ELEMENT ATOMIC SYMBOL ATOMIC NUMBER ELECTRONIC
CONFIGURATION
Hydrogen H 1
Helium He 2
Lithium Li 3
Beryllium Be 4
Boron B 5
Carbon C 6
Nitrogen N 7
Oxygen O 8
Fluorine F 9
Neon Ne 10
Atomic Structure
The First 20 Elements Of The Periodic Table Cont’d
NAME OF ELEMENT ATOMIC SYMBOL ATOMIC NUMBER ELECTRONIC
CONFIGURATION
Sodium Na 11
Magnesium Mg 12
Aluminium Al 13
Silicon Si 14
Phosphorus P 15
Sulfur S 16
Chlorine Cl 17
Argon Ar 18
Potassium K 19
Calcium Ca 20
Atomic Structure
Nucleus
SHELL DIAGRAM
1st shell
 The electronic configuration P 11
represents the arrangement N 12 2nd shell
of electrons in an atom
3rd shell
(Valence Shell)
23
11 Na
 The electronic configuration of the sodium atom
shown is: 2.8.1
Atomic Structure
Isotopes
 Isotopes are atoms of the same element which have the same
number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons.

 Isotopes are chemically alike in all aspects, except for their masses.
However, some isotopes are radioactive.

 Hydrogen has three isotopes 11H, 21H and 31H.

2
1 H is called deuterium, 31H is called tritium. Both isotopes are found in
sea water and the Sun.
Atomic Structure
Relative Atomic Mass
 Chlorine exists as two main isotopes: 3517Cl (75%) and 3717Cl (25%).
 The average atomic mass of chlorine is given by the weighted
mean of the two isotopes:
0.75 x 35 + 0.25 x 37 = 35.5

 Hence, in the Periodic Table the atomic mass of chlorine is given

as 35.517Cl.
 This is the relative atomic mass of the chlorine atom.
 Relative atomic mass is defined as the weighted average mass of
the isotopes of an element relative to 1/12th the mass of an atom of
C-12.
 Radioactive Isotopes
Radioactive isotopes have unstable nuclei and decay to produce
stable nuclei by emitting either particles and/or gamma radiation.

Examples of Radioactive Isotopes:

 Uranium – 235 is used to generate electricity through a process
called nuclear fission in nuclear power stations.

 Carbon – 14 is used in carbon dating to determine the age of the

remains of dead plants and animals.

 Cobalt – 60 is used to kill cancerous cells by directing a controlled

beam of gamma radiation to the cells. This is called radiotherapy.
 Radioactive Isotopes Cont’d

 Technetium – 99 is used in bone imaging in order to detect

bone abnormalities in patients.

 Iodine – 131 is used to detect thyroid problems in patients.

If the thyroid is not absorbing iodine properly the gamma
rays emitted by iodine – 131 would be detected.

 Plutonium-238 is used to power heart pacemakers by

generating an electric current from the heat energy
liberated during radioactive decay.
Atomic Structure
Ions
 In an atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, so an atom is electrically neutral.
 However, atoms can lose or gain electrons to form charged particles called ions.

 Atoms form ions so that they can have the stable electronic structure of a noble gas such as helium, neon or argon.

A sodium atom (2.8.1), gives away its 1 outer electron to form a positively charged
sodium ion, Na+ (2.8), which has the same electronic structure as neon.
Atomic Structure
Positive And Negative Ions
 If an atom gives away its outer electrons, then it has more
protons than electrons and becomes a positively charged ion.
 If an atom takes in electrons, then it has more electrons than
protons, and it becomes a negatively charged ion.
 Examples:
 Mg  Mg2+ + 2e-
(Mg loses two electrons to form a positive ion, Mg2+)
 Cl + e-  Cl-
(Cl gains one electron to form a negative ion, Cl-)
Atomic Structure
Ions Of Metals And Non-Metals
 Metals e.g. sodium, calcium and aluminium which have less than
4 electrons in their outermost shells, always give away electrons
to form positive ions.

 Non-metals like chlorine, oxygen and nitrogen which have more

than 4 electrons in their outer shell, take in electrons to form
negative ions.
Atomic Structure
To learn more about Atomic Structure,
click on the links below!

1. http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/08365/h&patoms.htm
2. http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/3-atoms.htm
3. http://www.chem4kids.com/files/atom_structure.html
4. http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/isotopes/