Chemistry – The Atom

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES

• Describe the structure of an atom in terms of a positive

nucleus and negative electrons

• Describe the composition of the nucleus in terms of protons

and neutrons
• State the charges of protons and neutrons
• Use the term proton number Z
• Use the term nucleon number A
• Use and explain the term isotope
 Atoms

Atomic structure
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Nucleus
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Nucleus
1) It’s in the middle of the atom
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Nucleus
1) It’s in the middle of the atom
2) It contains protons and
neutrons
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Nucleus
1) It’s in the middle of the atom
2) It contains protons and
neutrons
3) It has a positive charge
because of the protons.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Nucleus
1) It’s in the middle of the atom
2) It contains protons and
neutrons
3) It has a positive charge
because of the protons.
4) Almost the whole mass of the
atom is concentrated in the
nucleus.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged. .
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged.
3) They’re tiny, but they cover a lot of
space..
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged.
3) They’re tiny, but they cover a lot of
space..
4) The volume their orbits occupy
determines how big the atom is.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged.
3) They’re tiny, but they cover a lot of
space..
4) The volume their orbits occupy
determines how big the atom is.
5) They have virtually no mass.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged.
3) They’re tiny, but they cover a lot of
space..
4) The volume their orbits occupy
determines how big the atom is.
5) They have virtually no mass.
6) They occupy shells around the
nucleus.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged.
3) They’re tiny, but they cover a lot of
space..
4) The volume their orbits occupy
determines how big the atom is.
5) They have virtually no mass.
6) They occupy shells around the
nucleus.
7) These shells explain the whole of
chemistry.
 Atoms

Atomic structure

Summary

Particle Mass Charge

Proton 1 +1

Neutron 1 0

Electron 1/2000 -1
 Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or

2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
1st
 Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or

2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
2) The LOWEST energy levels are ALWAYS 1st
FILLED FIRST.
 Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or

2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
2) The LOWEST energy levels are ALWAYS 1st
FILLED FIRST.
3) Only a certain number of electrons are
allowed in each shell:
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
rd
3 shell: 8
 Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or

2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
2) The LOWEST energy levels are ALWAYS 1st
FILLED FIRST.
3) Only a certain number of electrons are
allowed in each shell:
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
rd
3 shell: 8

4) Atoms are much HAPPIER when they have

FULL electron shells.
 Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or

2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
2) The LOWEST energy levels are ALWAYS 1st
FILLED FIRST.
3) Only a certain number of electrons are
allowed in each shell:
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
rd
3 shell: 8

4) Atoms are much HAPPIER when they have

FULL electron shells.
5) In most atoms the OUTER SHELL is NOT
FULL and this makes the atom want to
REACT.
 Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or

2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
2) The LOWEST energy levels are ALWAYS 1st
FILLED FIRST.
3) Only a certain number of electrons are
allowed in each shell:
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
rd
3 shell: 8

4) Atoms are much HAPPIER when they have

FULL electron shells.
5) In most atoms the OUTER SHELL is NOT
FULL and this makes the atom want to
REACT.

So, how do we know how many electrons, protons and neutrons there are?
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

23

11
Na
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE MASS NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

Na
11
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE NUCLEON NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER

Na
11
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE NUCLEON NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER 11

Na
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
1) The atomic number tells you how many protons there are.
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE NUCLEON NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER 11

Na
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
1) The atomic number tells you how many protons there are.
2) This also tells you how many electrons there are.
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE NUCLEON NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER 11

Na
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
1) The atomic number tells you how many protons there are.
2) This also tells you how many electrons there are.
3) To get the number of neutrons – just subtract the atomic number from the
mass number.
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE NUCLEON NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER 11

Na
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
1) The atomic number tells you how many protons there are.
2) This also tells you how many electrons there are.
3) To get the number of neutrons – just subtract the atomic number from the
mass number.
4) The mass number is always the biggest number. It tells you the relative mass
of the atom.
 Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE NUCLEON NUMBER 23

- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER 11

Na
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
1) The atomic number tells you how many protons there are.
2) This also tells you how many electrons there are.
3) To get the number of neutrons – just subtract the atomic number from the
mass number.
4) The mass number is always the biggest number. It tells you the relative mass
of the atom.
 Atoms

Atomic Number and Mass Number

Also known as the

MASS NUMBER
 Atoms

Atomic Number and Mass Number

Also known as the

MASS NUMBER

Also known as the

PROTON NUMBER
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

What’s the
difference
between
these two?
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

What’s the
difference
between
these two?

In the nucleus, this

one has 6 protons
and 6 neutrons.
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Isotopes
What’s the are atoms
with the
difference same
between number of
these two? protons and
electrons
but a
different
number of
neutrons.

In the nucleus, this In the nucleus, this

one has 6 protons one has 6 protons
and 6 neutrons. and 7 neutrons.
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Isotopes have the same atomic
number, but different mass numbers
Isotopes
What’s the are atoms
difference with the
between same
number of
these two? protons but
a different
number of
neutrons.

In the nucleus, this In the nucleus, this

one has 6 protons one has 6 protons
and 6 neutrons. and 7 neutrons.
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Isotopes have the same atomic
number, but different mass numbers Different
isotopes
What’s the have the
difference same
chemical
between properties
these two? Because
they have
the same
number of
last shell
electrons.
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Isotopes have the same atomic
number, but different mass numbers Different
isotopes
What’s the have the
difference same
chemical
between properties
these two? Because
they have
the same
number of
last shell
electrons.
Chemical properties are the ability to
react with different atoms by losing,
gaining or sharing electrons
 35 37
Cl Chlorine Cl
17 17
Isotopes

• Chlorine-35 • Chlorine-37
• Atomic number: • Atomic number:
• Mass number: • Mass number:
• Number of protons: • number of protons:
• Number of electrons: • number Of electrons:
• Number of neutrons: • number of neutrons:
 6 7
3
Li Li
3

• Lithium-6 • Lithium-7
• Atomic number: • Atomic number:
• Mass number: • Mass number:
• Number of protons: • number of protons:
• Number of electrons: • number of electrons:
• Number of neutrons: • number of neutrons:
 ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Most elements
have different
What are the isotopes but
features of there’s usually
isotopes? only one or two
stable ones.
 ISOTOPES

Hydrogen isotopes
 ISOTOPES

Nucleon number and atomic mass

 ISOTOPES

Nucleon number and relative atomic mass Ar

 ISOTOPES

Calculate the relative atomic mass, Ar

Example (1): The percentage abundance of naturally occurring

chlorine atoms which have mass 35 is 75%, and 25% have a mass
of 37, what is the Ar value of chlorine?

֎ To find the Ar value multiply the percentage abundance ֎

with mass for each isotope then add the figures together.
 ISOTOPES

Calculate the relative atomic mass, Ar

Example (2): What is the Ar value of uranium if you know that

uranium has three isotopes with the following relative
abundance
238U 99.27% , 235U 0.7% , 234U 0.01%

Example (3): Naturally-occurring bromine is composed of two

isotopes: bromine-79 (50.5%) and bromine-81 (49.5%). What is
the Ar Value of bromine.