UNIT 2 ATOMIC STRUCTURE

I. Basic Subatomic Particles

A. Reproduce this table in your
notes:Abb. Charge Locatio Mass (g) Mass (amu)
Particle
n

proton

neutron

electron

p+

n0

e-

+1

Neutral

-1

Nucleu
s

1.67 x10-

Nucleu
s

1.67 x10-

ecloud,
orbitals

~1 amu

24

~1 amu

24

9.11 X1028

1/1840th

B. A typical square on the periodic table

Get out your table!

1.The Atomic Number (Z)

*The whole #, the smaller of
the two numbers
*Corresponds to the # of p+
in an atom
*Determines the identity of
the atom
*In an electrically neutral
atom, #p+ = #e-

2. The Atomic Mass (A)

*The larger of the two numbers,
not usually a whole number
*The mass of an atom in atomic
mass units (amu), the combined
mass of p+ and n0.
*What is reported on the periodic
table is the weighted average of
the elements ISOTOPES.
*For an individual isotope of that
element:
#p+ + #of n0 = Atomic mass

C. ISOTOPES Atoms of the same

element (same # of p+, same atomic
number) that have a different
number of n0 and therefore a
different
atomic
mass.
+
0
Notatio Notatio
#p

#e

#n

H-1

H-2

H-3

1
2
3

D. Many elements have multiple isotopes. To

determine the mass seen on the periodic table
the weighted average is calculated:
Magnesium:
Isotope

Mass (amu) % Abundance

Mg-24

23.985

78.70%

Mg-25

24.986

10.13%

Mg-26

25.983

11.17%

Step 1:(Mass of each isotope)(% abundance as a

decimal) =
Step 2: Sum the calculations for all isotopes
Mg-24: (23.985)(0.7870)
18.876
=
2.531
Mg-25 (24.986)(0.1013)
=
2.902
Mg-26 (25.983)(0.1117) =
Weighted average is the total:

24.309 amu