Atomic Structure

Atoms

Atom: The smallest particle of an element that consists of electrons surrounding a nucleus that
contains protons and neutrons.
Molecule: The smallest particle of an element or compound that can exist independently.
 Molecules are formed when atoms join together by chemical bonds.

The Structure of an Atom:

Atoms are made up of subatomic particles called protons, neutrons and electrons.
The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons and the electrons orbit around the nucleus in
different shells.
A model diagram for an atom is shown below:
Atomic number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Mass number: The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element that contains the same number of protons and electrons
but a different number of neutrons. Therefore, they have the same atomic number but a different
mass number.
Relative atomic mass: Weighted average mass of one atom of an element, taking into account
the abundances of all the isotopes of that element. It is measured as a ratio to ½ of the mass of
an atom of carbon-12.

Calculating Relative Atomic Mass:

Isotopes:
Atoms of the same element that contains the same number of protons and electrons but
different number of neutrons.

Equation:
   
     (% of isotope 1 x mass of isotope 1) + (% of isotope 2 x mass of isotope 2)
Ar =   ____________________________________________________________________
                                                                     100

Example:

The table shows information about the isotopes in a sample of Rubidium:

Use information from the table to calculate the relative atomic mass of this sample of Rubidium.
Give your answer to one decimal place.

         ( 72   x   85 )   +   ( 28   x   87 )

    ____________________________     =   85.6
                         100
Relative atomic mass = 85.6