Questions

Active revision – Atomic structure

Learning outcomes:
Learners should be able to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and understanding of: revised

isotopes as atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons and different masses
atomic structure in terms of the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons for atoms and ions,
given the atomic number, mass number and any ionic charge

Protons, neutrons and electrons

Charges and relative masses

charge relative mass where found in atom

proton

neutron

electron

Atomic number and mass number

Key definitions
Atomic (proton) number is the number of ___________________ in the
nucleus of an atom.
Mass number (nucleon number) is the total number of
________________________________ in the nucleus of an atom.

Mass number minus atomic number is the number of _________________

in the nucleus of an atom.

A=

X = element
symbol
Z=

Example

How many protons

+ neutrons? How many neutrons?

How many
protons?

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 Answers
Protons, neutrons and electrons
Charges and relative masses
charge relative mass where found in atom

proton +1 1 in nucleus

neutron 0 1 in nucleus
0.0005 or in shells
electron -1
1/2000 surrounding nucleus

Atomic number and mass number

Key definitions
Atomic (proton) number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Mass number (nucleon number) is the total number of protons and neutrons
in the nucleus of an atom.

Mass number minus atomic number is the number of neutrons in the

nucleus of an atom.

Symbol of atom

A = mass
number
X = element
Z = atomic
symbol
number

Example

How many protons

+ neutrons? 31 How many neutrons?

How many 31-15 = 16

protons? 15

Note: Mass number must be a whole number.

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 Questions
Isotopes

Key definition
Isotopes are atoms which have the same number of _______________ but
different numbers of _________________.

Examples of isotopes
Complete the following table for the two isotopes of gallium:

isotope
mass number
atomic number
number of protons in nucleus
number of neutrons in nucleus

Ions
A positive ion (cation) has lost one or more electrons e.g Na+ has lost one electron.
A negative ion (anion) has gained one or more electrons e.g Cl− has gained one electron.

ion

number of protons
number of neutrons
number of electrons
total positive charge of protons
total negative charge of electrons
overall charge

Quick check - complete the following tables:

symbol atomic mass number of number of number of
number number protons neutrons electrons

protons neutrons electrons charge symbol of cation or

ion anion
19 20 18
34 46 36
29 36 27
51 72 54

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 Answers
Isotopes

Key definition
Isotopes are atoms which have the same number of protons but different
numbers of neutrons.

Examples of isotopes
Complete the following table for the two isotopes of gallium:

isotope
mass number 69 71
atomic number 31 31
number of protons in nucleus 31 31
number of neutrons in nucleus 69 - 31 = 38 71 - 31 = 40

Ions
A positive ion (cation) has lost one or more electrons e.g Na+ has lost one electron.
A negative ion (anion) has gained one or more electrons e.g Cl− has gained one electron.

ion

number of protons 31 16
number of neutrons 38 17
number of electrons 31 - 3 = 28 16 + 2 = 18
total positive charge of protons +31 +16
total negative charge of electrons -28 -18
overall charge +3 -2

Quick check - complete the following tables:

symbol atomic mass number of number of number of
number number protons neutrons electrons
27 59 27 32 27

28 58 28 30 26

35 79 35 44 36

protons neutrons electrons charge symbol of cation or

ion anion
19 20 18 +1 cation
29 36 27 +2 cation
51 72 54 -3 anion

Notes: 1. Use the atomic number, not mass number, to find the element and its symbol on the Periodic Table.
2. The mass number of a particular atom or ion is a whole number = sum of protons and neutrons. It is not the
same as the relative atomic mass found on the Periodic Table, which is the average mass of all the isotopes.
E.g. this particular Sb3- ion has a mass number of 123, whereas the average mass of all Sb isotopes is 121.8.
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