[0620 CHEMISTRY CHAPTER 3: ATOMS AND ELEMENTS]

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Chapter 3: ATOMS AND ELEMENTS

ELEMENTS
Define an element.
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Over 100 elements exist, and known elements are classified in the periodic table,
 An element contains only one kind of atom different from atoms of other
elements,
 Each known element has a name and chemical symbol or atomic symbol.

Activity 1

1. (a) What is meant by a chemical symbol?

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(b) Use a copy of the periodic table (on page 324) to check for the required
information, and fill them in the table below.

Name of element Atomic Symbol Name of element Atomic Symbol

Hydrogen Fe
Helium Al
Carbon Na
Copper K
Nitrogen Sn
Particles in elements
The basic particle units in an element are the atoms.
An atom is the smallest particle of matter that
 we cannot break down further by chemical means,
 retains the properties of an element,
 takes part in chemical reactions.

In some elements, atoms stay in groups called molecules.

(c) Define a molecule
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Elements which contain molecule units include hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen,
chlorine, bromine, etc.
(d) Complete the table below with the correct information.
Element/symbol Drawing Formula Atomicity
Helium, He He monoatomic

Argon, Ar Ar monoatomic

Magnesium, Mg Mg

Zinc, Zn Zn

Hydrogen, H H2 diatomic

Oxygen, O O2 diatomic

Nitrogen, N N2

Fluorine, F F2

Chlorine, Cl Cl2

Bromine, Br Br2
The Atom structure
The atom is the smallest indivisible particle of an element that takes part in
chemical reactions.
Structure of the atom consists of three sub-atomic particles namely
 protons, p
 neutrons, n
 electrons, e.

Particle location Relative charge Relative mass

proton nucleus positive charge of one +1 1 unit
neutron nucleus uncharged 0 1 unit
1
electron shells negative charge of one -1 /1840 unit

The numbers of these subatomic particles vary from element to element.

The atomic model

Protons and neutrons cluster in the centre and form the nucleus- the heavy part of
the atom.
The electrons orbit very fast around the nucleus at different energy levels called
shells. Below is typical model for a carbon atom.
NOTE
 Protons and neutrons together are sometimes referred to as nucleons,
 In an atom, number of protons = number of electrons, and so an atom is
electrically neutral.

In the periodic table, an element can be represented in nuclide notation as below.

A
Z X
Where X is the atomic symbol of the element
A is the relative atomic mass
Z is the atomic number

Important terms

1. Atomic number (PROTON NUMBER)

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

atomic number Z = proton number

2. Atomic mass (mass number) (NUCLEON NUMBER)

Atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
atomic mass A = protons + neutrons or nucleon number

Activity 2

1. (a) Explain why an atom is considered to be electrically neutral. [2]

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(b) Use the periodic table provided (page 324) to help you complete the
following table with the correct information.
Element Atomic number Relative atomic mass Neutron number
Ba
S
N
V
Ba
Pt

3. Isotopes
Isotopes are defined as atoms of an element having same atomic number
but different atomic masses.
(a) Complete the following table with the correct numbers
Isotope protons Electrons Neutrons

C - 12

C - 13

C - 14
Cl - 35

Cl - 37

U - 234

U - 235

U - 238

NOTE
Relative atomic mass of an element can be defined as the weighted average
of masses of all isotopes of the element.
(b) Isotopes of an element have identical chemical properties. Explain why
this is so. [2]

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(c) Isotopes of some elements are radioactive, and so they are sometimes
referred to as radioisotopes.
Radioisotopes are isotopes whose nuclei are unstable and decay by
emitting nuclear radiations such as.
 alpha particles,
 beta particle,
 gamma rays.

Examples of radioisotopes
 Iodine -131
 Carbon - 14
 Uranium - 235,
Some uses of radioisotopes
1. Tracer reagents in research,
2. Treating cancer (medical use),
3. Sterilizing medical equipment (medical use),
4. For gauging (measure thickness of materials), (industrial use),
5. For checking cracks in metals, (industrial use)
6. Uranium - 235 is a nuclear fuel used to generate energy.
Ions
Ion is a charged particle formed when an atom gains or loses electron.
 positive ion is formed when an atom loses electron. Positive ions are formed by
metal elements mainly.
 negative ion is formed when an atom gains electron. Negative ions are formed
by non-metals mainly.
If a particle has
+
 proton number greater than electron number, it is a positive ion eg Na
2-
 proton number less than electron number, it is a negative ion eg O .

Activity
(a) Use the periodic table to help you complete the table below correctly.

Name of ion ion symbol protons electrons

+
Sodium ion Na
2-
Oxygen ion O
3+
Aluminium ion Al
3-
Nitrogen ion N
Electronic structure (configuration)

This is the distribution of electrons in the shells of an atom or ion.

Rules for electron distribution

1. Electrons are filled starting from innermost shell to the outermost shell.

The outermost shell is called the valency shell.

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom are called valency electrons.

2. Electrons are filled singly first before pairing them,

3. Each electron shell takes a specific maximum number of electrons distributed in

the different energy levels.

Shell Maximum number of electrons

1 (inner most shell) 2
2 8
3 18
4 32

Activity
Use the periodic table to help you complete the table below.
Particle Electron distribution Structure

He
 Li

Ne

Cl

Ar

10 Chapter 3 : Atoms and Elements | Khalil Swale

 Ca

Br

Rb

F-

Mg 2+