Module 2 Atomic Structure

The study of atoms entails a lot of concepts such as their subatomic particles, atomic structures,
discoverer and properties. One fascinating area of study of atoms is the isotopes. Many of us have heard
this word already but have limited clear understanding what the concept is.

Isotopes are often related to nuclear energy which is being used in many industries. This is
because the nuclear energy usually comes from radioisotopes- a kind of isotopes that is radioactive.
Many of the food products in the market were subjected to radiation that comes from radioisotopes.
Only few people knew this because the industries are aware that people are sensitive to the use of
nuclear energy. This module will discuss the nature of isotopes as well as their kinds, examples and uses.

Lesson Outline

2.1 Common Isotopes and Their Uses

Learning Outcome(s): Recognize common isotopes and their uses.

Lesson 2.1 Common Isotopes and Their Uses

Sub-atomic Particles
1. Neutrons -The neutral particles of an atom.
2. Electrons -The negatively charged particles of an atom
3. Protons -The positively charged particles of an atom.

Isotopes The word isotope was derived from Greek words isos and topos which means “the same
place”. Isotopes variants of an element are still found in the same location in the periodic table of
elements. This term was introduced by a British Chemist Frederick Soddy.

Nature of Isotopes?
 Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different in
the number of neutrons.

Example – protium, deuterium and tritium. All three of them are hydrogen. It means that they
have an atomic number of 1 and has proton each. However, protium has no electrons,
deuterium has 1 neutron and tritium has 2 neutrons

 Isotopes are identified by their mass number

 Example. Oxygen- 15 is an isotope of oxygen. This isotope of oxygen has a mass number of 15.
Carbon- 14 is an isotope of carbon. This isotope of carbon has a mass number of 14

Isotopes are written using the format

A
Z X
Where X- chemical symbol of the element

A- mass number

Z- atomic number

Mass Number - is the sum of the protons and neutrons in a nucleus

Atomic number - is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Example.

3
1 H
Following the format, this isotope has a mass number of 3 and an atomic number of 1. Therefore, this
isotope has a 1 proton and 2 neutrons.

To identify a specific isotope of an element, write the name of the element followed by a hyphen
and the mass number of the isotope. Isotopes of oxygen are presented below.

 Oxygen-16 for the isotope with mass number of 16

 Oxygen-17 for the isotope with mass number of 17

 Oxygen-18 for the isotope with mass number of 18

 An oxygen atom with eight protons and eight neutrons and has a mass number of 16, its name is
Oxygen-16. Oxygen-17 has eight protons and nine neutrons and its mass number is 17. And lastly, an
oxygen atom with eight protons and ten neutrons and has a mass number of eighteen.

Due to the variations of the mass number of the isotopes like Oxygen-16, Oxygen-17 and
Oxygen-18, the relative atomic mass should be computed as indicated in the periodic table. The
atomic mass of oxygen indicated in the periodic table is 15.999. How this figure obtained? To
calculate the atomic mass of an element, you have to multiply the mass number of each isotope by
its percentage abundance in decimal form. Then add these amounts together to find the relative
atomic mass.

Example, Chlorine-35 makes up 75.53 percent of all the chlorine in nature, and Chlorine-37
makes up the other 24.47 percent. The relative atomic mass of chlorine is calculated as follows;
Module 3 Formulas and Names of Compounds

Compounds may often very strange to us because of our lack of understanding or idea about
them especially if they are expresses in their chemical formula and chemical name. The chemical
formula and chemical name are always written in the food, medicine and other product labels. But being
familiar on writing the chemical formula and chemical name of various compounds is not sole
responsibility of those who work in chemical-related industries but rather it is a skill that a person must
learn.

This module will discuss the method of writing the chemical formula and chemical name of a
given compound considering the type of chemical bond exist in the said compound properly and
correctly.

Lesson Outline :

3.1 Chemical Formula and Chemical Name of Compounds

Learning Outcome(s):

(1) Represent compounds using chemical formulas, structural formulas and models
(2) Name the compounds given their chemical formula

Chemical Formula, Chemical Name and Structural Formula

From our previous lesson, we have described chemical formula as a symbolic expression of a
compound or substance. It is also defined as shorthand of expressing the types and the number of
atoms in a substance.

Chemical name is the scientific name given to a chemical in accordance with the nomenclature
system developed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

While structural formula is a graphical representation of the molecular structure showing how
the atoms are possibly arranged in the real three-dimensional space.
How to write the Chemical Formula, Chemical Name and Structural
Formula of Compounds?
Compound
This is a substance which is made up of two or more atoms joined together by a chemical bond.
Compounds may be classified into two based from the nature of the atoms that make up them, and the
type of intramolecular bond that exist between atoms.

The two classification of compounds are ionic compound and covalent compound.

1. The ionic compound is formed between a metal atom and a nonmetal atom, and the type of
intermolecular bond exist between atoms is ionic bond due to the presence of ionic charges.

Example of this is sodium chloride which is made up of metal sodium and nonmetal chlorine.

2. The covalent compound is formed between two or more nonmetal atoms, and the type of
intramolecular bond that exist between atoms is covalent bond. Example of this is Carbon
tetrachloride.

So, in writing the chemical formula, structural formula as well as the chemical name of a given
compound, you must determine first the intramolecular bond that exists between atoms of
compounds.
Chemical Formula and Chemical Name
Once again, chemical formula is the shorthand of expressing the types and the number of atoms
in a substance. The way of writing the chemical formula and chemical name of ionic compound is
different from the covalent compound.

a. Ionic Compound In writing the chemical formula of an ionic compound, do the following steps
below. We will use sodium chloride as an example of a chemical name that need to be converted into
chemical formula.

Step 1 (Atoms involved) - Sodium and Chlorine

The Na has a charged of +1 because it tends to give 1 valence electron to chlorine atom to
become stable. Most metal atoms whose valence electrons are ranging from 1-3, they tend to give
valence electron to become stable thus becomes positive ion known as Cation. Since Na has 1 valence
electron, it will give its valence electron to chlorine forming sodium ion. While Cl has a charged of -1
because it tends to accept 1 valence electron from sodium atom to become stable. Most nonmetal
atoms whose valence electrons are ranging from 5-7, they tend to accept valence electron to become
stable thus becomes negative ion known as Anion. Since Cl has 7 valence electrons, it needs 1 valence
electron from Na, it will accept 1 valence electron from sodium forming chlorine ion.
If you want to reverse the process, let us say naming an ionic compound, do the following steps below.
We will use NaCl as an example of a chemical formula that need to convert to chemical name.

b. Covalent Compound In writing the chemical formula of an covalent compound, do the

following steps below. We will use Carbon tetrachloride as an example of a chemical name that need to
be converted into chemical formula.

Note that the carbon has 1 atom while chlorine has 4 atoms. We can determine the number of
atom based from the Greek prefixes used before each type of atom. In Carbon tetrachloride, there is no
Greek prefix written before the word carbon. This means that the number of carbon is 1. In Greek prefix,
1 is mono but there is no prefix mono before the word carbon. This is because the prefix mono is not
allowed to be written at the beginning of the chemical name. From supposedly Monocarbon
tetrachloride, it is name as carbon tetrachloride.
Sample Problem
Post Test
1. Give the name of the following compounds. (Please refer to your periodic table)

2. Write the formulas of the following compounds. (Refer to your periodic table of elements)

1. Magnesium nitride
2. Dinitrogen trioxide
3. Hydrogen bromide
4. Diarsenic pentoxide
5. Carbon disulfide
6. Boron trichloride
7. Calcium hydroxide
8. Aluminum Chromate
9. Ammonium Carbonate
10.Sodium Sulfate