Chemistry for Engineers

Review of Basic Concepts

Prepared by: Engr. L. Agustin

Atoms
and the
sub-atomic
particles
Dalton’s Atomic Theory
is a modern scientific theory that describes the nature of
matter in terms of atoms.
Dalton’s atomic theory explained three basic laws of chemistry:

1.Law of conservation of mass - there is no detectable change of

mass in an ordinary chemical reaction

2. Law of constant (definite) composition – a compound

always contains the same element in the same proportions by mass

3. Law of multiple proportions – the masses of one element that

combine with a fixed mass of the second element are in a ratio of
small whole numbers
Example: CO, CO2
The Atomic Models
 The Uncertainty Principle
- electrons do not move in paths around the
nucleus

“It is impossible to know the exact location of

electrons but we have clouds of probability
called orbitals in which we are more likely to find
an electron”

still widely accepted as most

accurate model of an atom
Components of an Atom

1. Proton (p+)
à determines the identity of the element
à discovered by Ernest Rutherford by
bombardment of alpha particles in a thin
foil gold

2. Neutron (no)
àdiscovered by James Chadwick by
bombardment of Beryllium with alpha particles

3. Electron (e-)
à discovered by J.J Thomson using a
cathode ray tube, discovering beams of
electrons
Components of an Atom

Atoms are electrically neutral.

Ion – formed when an atom loses or gains electrons
When a Calcium atom loses two electron, it
becomes

a. Ca-2 ion
b. Ca2+ ion
c. Ca1- ion
d. Ca1+ ion
The Nuclear Symbol
What subatomic particle determines the
identity of an element?
a. Proton
b. Neutron
c. Electron
d. Positron
1 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Write the symbol for the element used as a medical tool for
Scanning lungs. It has 54 protons and 79 neutrons.

2 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Sulfur is present in an ore called chalcocite. The ion in the ore

has 16 neutrons and 18 electrons. Write the nuclear symbol for
the ion.
Isotopes
of an atom contains the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons

Example:

Isotopic Abundances
natural abundance - measure of the average amount of a given isotope naturally occurring
on Earth
3 SAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculate the atomic mass of Chlorine
based on its two stable isotopes.

4 SAMPLE PROBLEM
Calculate the atomic mass of Lithium.
 The Mole Concept
Mole – unit which measures the amount of substance

Avogadro’s Number, NA
NA = 6.022 x1023 atoms, molecules, ions, particles,
fundamental units

In 1 mole, there are 6.022x1023 molecules of a substance

5 SAMPLE PROBLEM

Consider Arsenic (As), a favorite poison used in crime

stories.
a. What is the mass of an arsenic atom?
b. How many moles are there in 1 g of As?
c. How many atoms are there in ten grams of As?
d. How many protons are there in 0.1500lb of
arsenic?
The Periodic Table
 Scientists have identified 90 naturally occurring elements and
synthesized the others.

The periodic table organizes elements in way that you can

predict with reasonably good accuracy the physical and chemical
properties of the element and how they react chemically with
another element.

Elements are organized on the periodic table

according to their atomic number.
Elements are grouped into rows (period) and columns (families).
Elements in the same families have the same properties.
 The Uncertainty Principle
- electrons do not move in paths around the
nucleus

“It is impossible to know the exact location of

electrons but we have clouds of probability
called orbitals in which we are more likely to find
an electron”

still widely accepted as most

accurate model of an atom
Quantum Numbers
used to determine the electron configuration of an
atom and the probable location of the atom's
electrons

1. Principal (n)
à energy, size, and distance of e-
à n = 1, 2, 3, 4
à K=1, L=2, M=3, N=4

2. Angular/Azimuthal/Orbital (l)
à shape
à l = 0, 1, 2, … (n-1)
Quantum Numbers
3. Magnetic Quantum Number (ml)
àOrientation of orbital
àml = -l to l

4. Spin Quantum Number (ms)

àBehavior of e-
à ms= ½ or – ½
Electron Configuration
Electron Configuration of Hydrogen
 Valence Electrons
àelectrons which are in the highest (outermost) energy level
àthey are held most loosely

Take note:
• The number of valence electrons in an atom determines
a. properties of the atom
b. the way that atom will bond chemically
• When an atom has 8 electrons in the valence shell, it is stable.
# of Valence Electrons by Group
Chemical Bonding (Intramolecular Forces)
Elements combine in two general ways:
1. Transfer of electrons à ionic compounds
2. Sharing of electrons à covalent compounds

(1) (2)
Formation of Ionic Compounds

Ionic compounds à neutral; they contain equal numbers of positive

and negative charges (Example: NaCl)
• Metals lose electrons (Example: Aluminum)
• Nonmetals gain electrons (Example: Iodine)

Binary Ionic Compounds

àSimplest type of ionic compound
àFormed when a metal reacts with nonmetal
Naming Binary Ionic Compounds
1. For all ionic compounds, cation
is written first, then anion.
2. For all binary ionic compounds,
the name of the cation is the name
of the metal and the name of the
anion has the suffix –ide added to
the root of the name of the
nonmetal.
Example: Compound formed from
Calcium and Bromine
àCalcium Bromide (CaBr2)
Try this:
• Magnesium and Nitrogen
• Iodine and Cadmium
• Strontium and Flourine
• Sulfur and Cesium
Binary Ionic Compounds with metals that form more than one ion

Suffixes used for common names:

-ous for the ion with the lower charge
-ic for the ion with higher charge

Example:
Give the systematic name for
the following
formulas:
1. Ferric Oxide
2. CoS
3. CrI3
Compounds that contain polyatomic ions
Oxoanion – usually a Examples:
nonmetal which is bonded
to one or more oxygen 1. Fe (ClO4)2
atoms
2. Sodium Sulfite
3. Ba(OH)2•8H2O
Naming Acids

1. HBr
2. HCN
3. HNO2
Binary Covalent
Compounds
àFormed by the combination of
two nonmetals

Example:
1. Carbon disulfide
2. PCl5
3. Dinitrogen Tetroxide
4. S2Cl2