The Atom

Atomic Number and Mass

Number
Isotopes
Three fundamental parts of an atom are:

protons
electrons
neutrons

Structure of the atom:

protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus

electrons are located outside of the nucleus
 Atomic Theory

⚫ Atoms are building blocks of elements

⚫ Similar atoms are found in each element
⚫ Atoms of one element are different from the atoms
of other elements
⚫ Two or more different atoms bond in simple ratios
to form compounds
 Subatomic Particles
There are three subatomic particles that are of
interest to chemists. These particles define the
nature of atoms and how they are put together.
These particles are:

• Neutrons
• Protons
• Electrons
Properties of Subatomic Particles

Relative
mass to Charge, Unit
Particle Mass, g
Coulombs Charge
C-12, amu

-24
proton 1.6726 x 10 1.00728 1.67 x 10-19 +1
-28 -19
electron 9.1096 x 10 0.000549 -1.67 x 10 -1
-24
neutron 1.6749x 10 1.00867 0 0
 Subatomic Particles

Particle Symbol Charge Relative

Mass

Electron e- 1- 0

Proton p+ + 1

Neutron n 0 1
Location of Subatomic Particles

10-13 cm
electrons

protons
nucleus neutrons

10-8 cm
 Representation of Atoms

Mass
Number
Element

A Symbol

Atomic
Numbe
r
Z X
Atomic Number

Counts the number

of
protons
in an atom
 Atomic Number on the
Periodic Table

Atomic Number
11
Symbol
Na
 All atoms of an element have
the same number of protons

11 protons
11
Sodium
Na
 Number of Electrons

⚫ An atom is neutral
⚫ The net charge is zero
⚫ Number of protons = Number of electrons
⚫ Atomic number = Number of electrons
 Mass Number

Counts the number

of
protons and neutrons
in an atom
 Atomic Symbols

⚫ Show the mass number and atomic number

⚫ Give the symbol of the element

mass number
23 Na sodium-23
atomic number 11
 More Atomic Symbols

16 31 65
O P Zn
8 15 30

8 p+ 15 p+ 30 p+
8n 16 n 35 n
8 e- 15 e- 30 e-
 Isotopes

⚫ Atoms with the same number of protons,

but different numbers of neutrons.
⚫ Atoms of the same element (same atomic
number) with different mass numbers
Isotopes of chlorine
35Cl 37Cl
17 17

chlorine - 35 chlorine - 37
 Counting Protons, Neutrons &
Electrons
Naturally occurring carbon consists of three
isotopes, 12C, 13C, and 14C. State the number of
protons, neutrons, and electrons in each of
these carbon atoms.
12C 13C 14C
6 6 6

#P _______ _______ _______

#N _______ _______ _______
#E _______ _______ _______
 Solution

12C 13C 14C

6 6 6

#P __6___ _ 6___ ___6___

#N __6___ _ _7___ ___8___

#E __6___ _ 6___ ___6___

 Protons, Neutrons & Electrons
An atom of zinc has a mass number of 65.
A. Number of protons in the zinc atom
1) 30 2) 35 3) 65

B. Number of neutrons in the zinc atom

1) 30 2) 35 3) 65

C. What is the mass number of a zinc isotope

with 37 neutrons?
1) 37 2) 65 3) 67
 Solution
An atom of zinc has a mass number of 65.
A. Number of protons in the zinc atom
1) 30
B. Number of neutrons in the zinc atom
2) 35

C. What is the mass number of a zinc isotope

with 37 neutrons?
3) 67
 Atomic Symbols

Write the atomic symbols for atoms with

the following:

A. 8 p+, 8 n, 8 e- ___________

B. 17p+, 20n, 17e- ___________

C. 47p+, 60 n, 47 e- ___________
 Solution

16O

A. 8 p+, 8 n, 8 e- 8

B. 17p+, 20n, 17e- 37Cl

17

C. 47p+, 60 n, 47 e- 107Ag
47
 Identifying Elements
An atom has 14 protons and 20 neutrons.
A. Its atomic number is
1) 14 2) 16 3) 34
B. Its mass number is
1) 14 2) 16 3) 34
C. The element is
1) Si 2) Ca 3) Se

D. Another isotope of this element is

1) 34X 2) 34X 3) 36X
16 14 14
 Solution
An atom has 14 protons and 20 neutrons.
A. It has atomic number
1) 14

B. It has a mass number of

3) 34

C. The element is
1) Si
D. Another isotope of this element would be
3) 36X
14
 Masses of Atoms
⚫ A scale designed for atoms gives their small
atomic masses in atomic mass units (amu)
⚫ An atom of 12C was assigned an exact mass of
12.00 amu
⚫ Relative masses of all other atoms was
determined by comparing each to the mass of
12C

⚫ An atom twice as heavy has a mass of 24.00

amu. An atom half as heavy is 6.00 amu.
 Atomic Mass
Na
22.99
⚫ Listed on the periodic table
⚫ Gives the mass of “average” atom of each
element compared to 12C
⚫ Average atom based on all the isotopes and their
abundance %
⚫ Atomic mass is not a whole number
 Atomic Mass
Using the periodic table, specify the
atomic mass of each element (round to the
tenths place):
A. calcium __________
B. aluminum __________
C. lead __________
D. barium __________
E. iron __________
 Solution
Using the periodic table, specify the
atomic mass of each element (round to the
tenths place):
A. calcium _40.1 amu _
B. aluminum _27.0 amu _
C. lead _207.2 amu_
D. barium _137.3 amu_
E. iron _55.8 amu__
 Calculating Atomic Mass

⚫ Percent(%) abundance of isotopes

⚫ Mass of each isotope of that element
⚫ Weighted average =
mass isotope1(%) + mass isotope2(%) + …
100 100
 Atomic Mass of Magnesium
Isotopes Mass of Isotope Abundance
24Mg = 24.0 amu 78.70%
25Mg = 25.0 amu 10.13%
26Mg = 26.0 amu 11.17%
Atomic mass (average mass) Mg = 24.3 amu

Mg
24.3
 Calculating
Atomic Mass

Gallium is a metallic element found in

small lasers used in compact disc players.
In a sample of gallium, there is 60.2% of
gallium-69 (68.9 amu) atoms and 39.8% of
gallium-71 (70.9 amu) atoms. What is the
atomic mass of gallium?
 Solution
Ga-69
68.9 amu x 60.2 = 41.5 amu for 69Ga

100
Ga-71 (%/100)
70.9 amu x 39.8 = 28.2 amu for 71Ga

100

Atomic mass Ga = 69.7 amu

 Finding An Isotopic Mass
A sample of boron consists of 10B (mass
10.0 amu) and 11B (mass 11.0 amu). If
the average atomic mass of B is 10.8
amu, what is the % abundance of each
boron isotope?
Assign X and Y values:
X = % 10B Y = % 11B
Determine Y in terms of X
X + Y = 100
Y = 100 - X

Solve for X:
X (10.0) + (100 - X )(11.0) = 10.8
100 100
Multiply through by 100
10.0 X + 1100 - 11.0X = 1080
Collect X terms
10.0 X - 11.0 X = 1080 - 1100

- 1.0 X = -20

X = -20 = 20 % 10B

- 1.0
Y = 100 - X
% 11B = 100 - 20% = 80% 11B
 Isotopes of Copper

Copper has two isotopes 63Cu (62.9

amu) and 65Cu (64.9 amu). What is the
% abundance of each isotope? (Hint:
Check periodic table for atomic mass)

1) 30% 2) 70% 3) 100%

 Solution
2) 70%

Solution

62.9X + 6490 = 64.9X = 6350

-2.0 X = -140
X = 70%
 Isotopes of chlorine
Naturally occurring chlorine consists of 75.53%
of the isotope with mass number 35 and
24.47% of the isotope with mass number 37.
What is the average atomic mass of
naturally occurring chlorine?
35
17 Cl 17 protons 18 neutrons 17 electrons

37
17 Cl 17 protons 20 neutrons 17 electrons
 Solution

(0.7553)(34.97 u) = 26.41 u
(0.2447)(36.95 u) = 9.04 u

Atomic mass of Cl = 35.45 u