The Atomic Structure

Structure of an atom
Shell Nucleus ( proton & neutron ) Electron

The historical development of atomic models

Atomic Model John Dalton J.J.Thomson Ernest Rutherford Neils Bohr James Chadwick Characteristics Atom was imagined as a small indivisible ball Discovered electron Discovered proton in nucleus Electrons move in shells around the nucleus Discovered neutrons in nucleus

Structure of an atom
Shell Nucleus ( proton & neutron ) Electron

Subatomic particles
Proton Neutron Electron

Symbol

Relative mass

Relative electric charge +1 0 -1

p n e

1 1 0

As the masses of protons & neutrons are much greater than electrons, most of the masses of an atom concentrated in the nucleus. Nucleus has an overall positive charge. An atom consists of an equal number of electrons & protons. Thus, an atom is electrically neutral.

Proton Number
Is the number of protons in an atom. Since atoms are neutral, the proton number is also the number of electrons in the atom.

Nucleon Number
Is the total number of protons & neutrons in an atom. Nucleon number = protons + neutrons Is also known as mass number.

Symbol of an element
Nucleon number Proton number

23

Na 11

Number of protons, electrons & neutrons ?

Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Or, atoms with the same proton number but different nucleon number.

Element

Isotopes

Protons Electrons Neutrons 1 1 1 8 8 8 1 1 1 8 8 8 0 1 2 8 9 10

Hydrogen-1 Hydrogen Hydrogen-2 Hydrogen-3 Oxygen Oxygen-16 Oxygen-17 Oxygen-18

Isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties but different physical properties.

Uses of isotopes
Isotopes Cobalt-60 Sodium-24 Iodine-131 Carbon-14 Purposes Treatment of cancer Trace leaks in gas/water pipes Treatment of thyroid diseases Estimate age of fossils

Krypton-85 Control thickness of plastic sheets

The Electronic Structure of an Atom

The second shell (8e)

Nucleus The first shell (2e)

The third shell (8e)

Electron Arrangement
For a neutral atom, number of electrons = number of protons. Electrons occupy the shell closest to the nucleus first. Electron only start occupy the next shell when the previous shell has been fully occupied.

H:1 He : 2 Carbon : 2.4 Na : 2.8.1 Ca : 2.8.8.2

Valence electrons
Valence electrons are electrons found in the outermost occupied shell ( the furthest from the nucleus ) of an atom. The number of valence electrons in an atom can be determined from its electron arrangement.

H:1 He : 2 Carbon : 2.4 Na : 2.8.1 Ca : 2.8.8.2

VE : 1 VE : 2 VE : 4 VE : 1 VE : 2

Element

Symbol

Proton Nucleon Number Number Number Electron number number of proton of of arrangeelectron neutron ment

Number of valence elentron