Atomic structure

Current model of the atom

Smallest unit of an element, with a definite mass, which can enter into a chemical combination with
one or more other atoms.

Present model of the atom based on Neils Bohr’s

model, with some tweaking by Erwin Schrödinger.

Model worked for H H has only one e-

e- Energy shells
e-

Nucleus
n
1
2
 Structure of the atom

Isotopes - different forms of an element based on difference in mass

6p + 8n
Carbon-12 and carbon-14 Mass numbers

6 + 6 = 12 Electrical interactivity

Stability

C-12
 Atomic stability

Nucleus Ratio of protons : neutrons

Key features
Nucleus - protons/neutrons
 Isotopes

Reviewing isotopes

Naming isotopes Atom is defined by the number of protons

Electrons can’t define an atom - e- are shared between atoms

An atom can have a different number of neutrons

3 subatomic particles - e-
p+ Atomic number
n0
Instability
Carbon-12 Most stable
Nuclei can be stable or Carbon-13
unstable Carbon-14

Ratio of protons : neutrons

 Why are some isotopes unstable?

Too many neutrons : protons e.g. cobalt-60

Up to atomic # 20 ≤ 20 n:p 1:1

>20 n:p ↑1.5:1

If the nuclei are emitting radioactive particles they are

Too many neutrons unstable (radioisotopes)
n → p + e- Beta radiation
Too many protons : neutrons e.g. sodium-22

p → n + e+ beta+

Too many protons and neutrons (too heavy) e.g. uranium-238

> Pb Too heavy and all are radioactive Alpha radiation

Too much energy e.g. technicium-99m

Gamma radiation
 Symbol notation for isotopes

Symbols for elements

Atomic mass

Chemical symbol for the element

Atomic number

Hydrogen has a mass number very close to 1

2 13
Hydrogen-1 0n

Deuterium (H-2) 1n 1
Tritium (H-3) 2n
Proton defines the element If # of protons changes so does
the element
 Nucleon number

Equivalence of mass number and nucleon number Number of particles in the nucleus
(i.e. protons + neutrons)
Why aren’t e- counted?

Low mass 1800 e- ≈ 1 p (mass)

Oxygen-16 vs Oxygen-18

16 - 8 = 8 n 18 - 8 = 10 n

16 18

8 8
 Electron
Configuration

Electrons occupy discrete energy levels (Bohr atomic model)

Stable in theses levels

They absorb energy to move from the ground to an excited state

They release that same packet of energy to move back down

Useful for calculating ions

Max number of electrons in each level/shell
✓ 2n Only H & He
2
P1 2 x 12 = 2 Increase a period, we move to a new shell

P2 2 x 22 = 8 ✓ 8 elements in that period Li → Ne

P3 2 x 32 = 8 18 Na → Ar
❌

P4 2 Picture gets more complicated Ca 2, 8, 8, 2

 Subshells - spdf
suborbitals
Groups I & II, the active/alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals are ‘s’ groups

ⓢ 1st subshell Extreme

left
Groups III or XIII to VIII or XVIII are the ‘p’ group

Ⓟ Bundled on the right and go to the noble gases

The transition metals are the ‘d’ group

Centre of the table

Lanthanides and actinides at the bottom of the periodic table are the ‘f’ group

On the bottom of the table

Ⓟ
 Subshells - spdf

Fluorine Neon Sodium

2, 7

1s2 2s2 2p5

 Relative atomic mass In science we need to have something
to compare things with
Dealing with multiple isotopes
Scientists like controls (reference point)
The standard; the atomic mass of carbon-12 is regarded as exactly 12 amu
Atomic mass units
Carbon-12 is our reference point

Atomic numbers are always whole integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

H, He, Li, Be,

B
Atomic mass is often expressed to the second or third decimal place

If we have 50% C-12 & 50% C-13 occurring

Reflects proportion of different isotopes naturally in our world, we would get:

0.5 x 12 = 6
C is 12.011 as there is only a small amount of heavier 0.5 x 13 = 6.5 +
isotopes of Carbon
12.5
 Calculating relative atomic mass

If 95% of hydrogen exists as H-1, 4.5% as H-2 and just 0.5% as H-3, what would be the relative atomic mass
of hydrogen?

To answer this we use the following steps:

Contribution of H-1 to the mass:

0.95 x 1 = 0.95

Contribution of H-2 to the mass: 0.045 x 2 = 0.09

Contribution of H-3 to the mass: 0.005 x 3 = 0.015 +

1.055 a.m.u
Total relative atomic mass of hydrogen
 Flame tests
Emission spectra
The light part of EMS
Giving out

Electrons can be excited into higher levels by absorbing energy.

Excited electrons are unstable and fall to lower energy states by emitting excess energy in
the form of electromagnetic radiation of particular wavelengths (called an emission spectra)
You can get a number of bands appearing at the same time
We would then see it as a band of light

If the particular wavelength emitted corresponds to a part of the visible light component of the ems, we
detect it as a particular colour
wavelength
Too much energy and unstable
4
3
2
1
 Flame tests

Particular colours in fireworks can indicate the presence of particular metallic elements.

Only certain elements produce colours that we can see

The laboratory version of this is the flame test.

Red

Copper
Barium
Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
 Schrödinger Model of the Atom
Bohr Model of the Atom

Electrons in an atom fill one shell before starting on another.

A new shell begins to fill when the repulsive force exerted by the electrons on one another
overcomes the force of attraction by the nucleus.

The electrons shells constitutes the greatest volume of the atom. Discrete energy levels (shells) are
labelled K, L, M, N, O.

The maximum number of electrons which can occupy each shell is K-2; L-8; M-18; N-32; O-50.
(found using 2n2 where n = the number of shell counting from the nucleus).
 Schrödinger Model of the Atom
The model has changed due to the work of Heisenberg, Pauli and a few others

Electrons are not particles or waves. They do unusual things. Wave-Particle Duality.

Electrons regarded as waveforms, locations are probability clouds in space.

Orbitals and suborbitals, overlapping and complex

S (sharp), p (principle), d (diffuse) and f (fundamental) suborbitals

(s
)
2 2

2
 Using spin notation

Pauli exclusion principle: maximum of two electrons for every individual orientation, both in opposite spin
directions

Hund’s Rule: electrons in the orbitals are filled up first in one direction (e.g. + ½ ) then in the opposite spin.

E.g. electron configuration for chlorine. 17 2, 8, 7 2nd of the energy levels

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5 Fill in the first direction first, then
the other