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Atomic Structure

atoms

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13 views4 pages

Atomic Structure

atoms

Uploaded by

shreyamukey1991
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ATOMIC STRUCTURE

What Is Atomic Structure?


The atomic structure of an element refers to the constitution of its nucleus
and the arrangement of the electrons around it. Primarily, the atomic
structure of matter is made up of protons, electrons and neutrons.

The protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of the atom, which is
surrounded by the electrons belonging to the atom. The atomic number of
an element describes the total number of protons in its nucleus.

Neutral atoms have equal numbers of protons and electrons. However,


atoms may gain or lose electrons to increase their stability, and the
resulting charged entity is called an ion.

Atoms of different elements have different atomic structures because they


contain different numbers of protons and electrons. This is the reason for
the unique characteristics of different elements.
Atomic Models

In the 18th and 19th centuries, many scientists attempted to explain the
structure of the atom with the help of atomic models. Each of these
models had its own merits and demerits and was pivotal to the
development of the modern atomic model. The most notable contributions
to the field were by scientists such as John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest
Rutherford and Niels Bohr. Their ideas on the structure of the atom are
discussed in this subsection.
Subatomic Particles

Protons
 Protons are positively charged subatomic particles. The charge of a
proton is 1e, which corresponds to approximately 1.602 × 10 -19.
 The mass of a proton is approximately 1.672 × 10 -24.
 Protons are over 1800 times heavier than electrons.
 The total number of protons in the atoms of an element is always
equal to the atomic number of the element.

Neutrons
 The mass of a neutron is almost the same as that of a proton, i.e.,
1.674×10-24
 Neutrons are electrically neutral particles and carry no charge.
 Different isotopes of an element have the same number of protons
but vary in the number of neutrons present in their respective
nuclei.

Electrons
 The charge of an electron is -1e, which approximates to -1.602 × 10 -
19

 The mass of an electron is approximately 9.1 × 10-31.


 Due to the relatively negligible mass of electrons, they are ignored
when calculating the mass of an atom.

Conclusion on Atoms:
In conclusion, the study of atomic structure is essential to our
understanding of the physical and chemical properties of matter.
Through the efforts of scientists over the centuries, we have come to
understand that atoms are made up of subatomic particles such as
protons, neutrons, and electrons. The arrangement of these particles
within the atom determines its properties and behaviour. The atomic
number of an element is directly related to the number of protons in its
nucleus, and isotopes of an element differ in the number of neutrons in
their nuclei.

The development of atomic models by scientists like John Dalton, J.J.


Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, and Niels Bohr has been instrumental in
advancing our knowledge of atomic structure, and the modern atomic
model we use today is a testament to their contributions.

Overall, the study of atoms and their structure is a fascinating and


continuously evolving field that has wide-ranging implications for many
areas of science and technology.

Written by Soumil Mukey.

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