ATOMIC STRUCTURE

Particles in an atom

The nucleus of the atom

Particles in the atom
identify and describe protons, neutrons and electrons in terms of their relative charges and relative masses

Name symbol charge Relative mass (amu) Actual mass (kg)

proton p+ +1 1 1.67 x 10-27

neutron n0 0 1 1.67 x 10-27

electron e- -1 1/1836 9.11 x 10-31

▪ Mass of an electron is negligible compared to the mass of a proton or a neutron

▪ Most of the mass of the atom is located in the nucleus

Particles in the atom
deduce the behaviour of beams of protons, neutrons and electrons in electric fields

electron
+
neutron

- proton

The lighter electrons are deflected more strongly than the heavier protons
Particles in the atom
describe the distribution of mass and charge within an atom

+
+ More than 99.94% of an atom's mass is in the nucleus.
+
+
Particles in the atom
deduce the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons present in both atoms and ions given proton and nucleon
numbers (atomic and mass numbers) and charge

▪ An atom is electrically neutral

+
+ number of protons = number of electrons
+
+
▪ Neutron numbers may vary
2.1 Particles in the atom
d) deduce the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons present in both atoms and ions given proton and nucleon
numbers (atomic and mass numbers) and charge

ATOMIC NUMBER OR PROTON NUMBER

Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Symbol “Z”

+
Be
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
+
+ 4
1H He
+ 2

3 Li 4Be 5B 6C 7N 8O F
9 10 Ne

Na
11 12 M 13 Al 14 Si 15 P 16 S Cl
17 18 Ar
g

19 K 20 Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe

In periodic table, elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number

Particles in the atom
d) deduce the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons present in both atoms and ions given proton and nucleon
numbers (atomic and mass numbers) and charge

MASS NUMBER OR NUCLEON NUMBER

Total number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus . Symbol “A”

+
1 2 9 3 4 5 6 7 8

H +
+
Be
4 He
+
1 2

3 Li 4Be 5B 6C 7N 8O F
9 10 Ne

Na
11 12 M 13 Al 14 Si 15 P 16 S Cl
17 18 Ar
g

19 K 20 Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
Particles in the atom- Concept check
2.1 Particles in the atom- Concept check
Particles in the atom
- Concept check
Particles in the atom
- Concept check
2.1 Particles in the atom
- Concept check
2.2 The nucleus of the atom
distinguish between isotopes on the basis of different numbers of neutrons present

ISOTOPES (iso = same and top = place)

Atoms of the same element which have the same proton number but different nucleon number

+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +

4 protons and 5 neutrons 4 protons and 4 neutrons

9 8
4Be Be-9 4 Be Be-8

Isotopic notation U-235 and U-238 H-1, H-2 and H-3 O-16 and O-18
2.2 The nucleus of the atom
distinguish between isotopes on the basis of different numbers of neutrons present

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Electrons determine the chemical properties of an atom

Isotopes have same number of electrons and electronic arrangement ( electronic structure) and hence they have the
same chemical properties

+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +

Example: 2H2 + O2 -  2H2O 2D2 + O2  2D2O (D = H-2)

The nucleus of the
atom
Concept check
The nucleus of the
atom
Concept check