PARTICLES IN THE ATOM

What is an atom?

1. Define an atom

2. Sketch an atom labelling all the particles

phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/rutherford-scattering
 Nucleus

Electron

Orbit

Energy Levels
 The atom is mostly empty space.
 Two regions.
➼Nucleus - protons & neutrons.
➼Electron cloud- region where you might find an electron.
 THE STRUCTURE OF ATOMS
Atoms consist of a number of fundamental particles

Relative Relative
Particles Mass / kg Charge / C
mass charge

PROTON (p) 1.67 x 10-27 +1.60 x 10-19 1 +1

1
ELECTRON (e) 9.11 x 10-31 -1.60 x 10-19 1840 -1
NEUTRON (n) 1.67 x 10-27 0 1 0

Based on the relative mass and charge of the particles, what do you think
will happen to these particles when subjected to
1. Electric field
2. Magnetic field
Behaviour of particles in electric field

-
 Behaviour of particles in electric field

➣ protons are deflected towards negative potential

➣ electrons are deflected towards the positive potential
➣ neutrons are not deflected at all
Since electrons are lighter than protons, they are deflected more
than protons.
 https://interactives.ck12.org/simulations/chemistry.html

https://interactives.ck12.org/simulations/chemistry/atom-builder/app/
Contain the symbol of the element, the
mass number and the atomic number.

Superscript →
Mass
number

Subscript →
Atomic
number
X
 ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER
Atomic Number Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
Proton Number

23
Na
11
Atomic Number
 ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER
Atomic Number Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

23
Na
11
THESE ALWAYS GO
Atomic Number TOGETHER – ANYTHING
WITH 11 PROTONS MUST
BE SODIUM
 ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER
Mass Number Sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus
Nucleon number

Mass Number
PROTONS + NEUTRONS

23
Na
11
 ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER

Mass Number Sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus

Mass Number THERE WILL BE 12 NEUTRONS

IN THE NUCLEUS
23 – 11 = 12
23
Na
11
 ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER
Atomic Number Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Mass Number Sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus

Mass Number
PROTONS + NEUTRONS

23
Na
11
Atomic Number
PROTONS
 ATOMIC NUMBER AND MASS NUMBER
Atomic Number Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Mass Number Sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus

Mass Number
PROTONS + NEUTRONS

23
Na+
11
Atomic Number
PROTONS

N0. of protons = 11
N0. of electrons = 11 – 1 = 10

N0. of neutrons = 23- 11 = 12

ISOTOPES
 Isotopes of Hydrogen

Hydrogen-1 Hydrogen-2 Hydrogen-3

Potrium Deuterium Tritium

P
e
n

In your own words, write a definition of the term isotope, in terms of the number of
protons and neutrons present.
Learning Outcomes
 ISOTOPES

 Atoms of the same element with same proton

number but different nucleon number.

 Atoms of the same element with same number of

proton but different number of neutrons
 ISOTOPES

 Isotopes have the same electronic

configuration, so they have identical chemical
properties.

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiMvUZMI6Og
 ISOTOPES

 Isotopes of an element have slightly different

physical properties such as different densities, rates
of diffusion, etc. This is because physical
properties tend to depend more on the mass of
the atom.
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYInVraBe7s

 Atoms /ions that have the same number of electrons

are known as isoelectronic species
 Put the mass number after the name of the
element.

carbon- 12 12C

carbon -14 14C

uranium-235 235U
 Find the
 number of protons
 number of neutrons
 number of electrons 63
 Atomic number
 Mass Number
29 Cu
 Name
 Find the
 number of protons
 number of neutrons
 number of electrons 27 3+
 Atomic number
 Mass Number
13 Al
 Name
 Chlorine has two isotopes.
 State the 35
 number of protons in chlorine-37
17 Cl
 number of neutrons in chlorine-35
 number of electrons in chlorine-35 37
 atomic number of chlorine
 mass number in chlorine-37
17 Cl
 SUMMARY

Atomic number = p or e (for neutral atom only)

Mass number =p+n
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with
different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus

Mass Number A
ZX
Element Symbol
Atomic Number

235 238
92 U 92 U
1 Determine the number of protons, electrons and neutrons in the following
species.

No. of
Atom / Ion No. of neutrons No. of electrons
protons
O

O2-

Cl

Cl-

H+

H-

N3-

Li+

Na+

Al3+

Cu+
2 Complete the table to show the composition and identity of some atoms and ions. to show
the composition and identity of some atoms and ions.

1
1
16

3 Carbon-14 is a radioactive and is used by archaelogists in

1

carbon dating. Which species has both the number of

neutrons and the same number of electrons as an atom of
carbon-14
14 16
VARIATION OF ATOMIC AND IONIC
RADIUS
1 What do you think will happen to the size of atoms
Across the period
Down the group?

2 What do you think will happen to the size of ions

Across the period
Down the group ?
 Learning Outcomes

1. Able to describe the trend in atomic radius and

ionic radius across a period and down the group in
the periodic table
2. Able to sketch the trend in atomic radius and ionic
radius graphically for Period 3 elements
3. Able to state and explain qualitatively the
variations in atomic radius and ionic radius across
a period and down a group
CLASS ACTIVITY
ATOMIC RADIUS
CLASS ACTIVITY
IONIC RADIUS
1. Individually, (7 mins)
Use a metric ruler to draw a dot measuring up from the
bottom of the box a distance marking the diameter of each
element. Next ,hand-draw a circle using the dot and bottom
of the box as a guide for the height of the circle

2. Group discussion(5 mins)

* Divide yourself into 4 groups.
* Share and discuss in your groups the following
Group Discuss the trend
1 In atomic radius across the period
2 In atomic radius down the group
:
3 In ionic radius from Na to Al
4 In ionic radius from P to Cl

3. Choose 1 student to present the findings to be shared to the

whole class (3 mins)
 Across period Down the group
Atomic radius decrease due to Atomic radius increase due to
nuclear The
chargenuclear charge increases by effect
shielding +1 each time. As the
nuclear charge increases ,the valence electrons are pulled
The nuclear
closercharge
to theincreases
nucleusbyand
+1 thus
An extra shell of size
the atomic electrons cause the
decreases
each time. As the nuclear charge shielding effect to outweighs the effect
increases ,the valence electrons are of increased nuclear charge.
pulled closer to the nucleus and thus
the atomic size decreases This cause the valence electrons are
less strongly attracted by the nucleus
and are further away thus the atomic
size increases.
11+ 17+
 Na+, Mg2+, Al3+
Decrease in ionic radius
The cations are smaller than their
respective atoms because cations have
one shell less than neutral atoms.Hence
the valence electrons are more strongly
attracted to the nucleus
P3- , S2-, Cl-
Decrease in ionic radius
The anions are bigger than their
respective atoms because anions have
more electrons than protons. Hence the
valence electrons are less strongly
attracted to the nucleus.

Reason: All the ions have the same electronic configuration(isoelectronic) . But
the proton number increases which leads to increase nuclear charge and cause
the valence electrons to be pulled closer to the nucleus
 Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, Fr+
Increase in ionic radius
There is one more shell of electrons which cause the valence electrons
to be less strongly attracted by the nucleus (nuclear attraction
decreases) which results in greater shielding effect

The shielding effect outweighs the effect of increased nuclear charge.

The table shows information about some of the elements in the third period.

1 Explain why the atomic radius of elements in the third period decreases from Na
to Cl.
Increase in nuclear charge
.............................................................................................................................
Shielding effect remains constant thus the valence electrons are pulled closer to
.........................................................................................................................[3]
nucleus (increase in nuclear attraction between nucleus & valence electrons)

2 The radius of the most common ion of Mg is much smaller than the radius of the
most common ion of S. Identify both ions and explain the difference in their
radii.
The ions are Mg2+ and S2-
.............................................................................................................................
Mg2+ ion has one shell less than the S2- ion hence …………………..
……................................................................................................................. [2]
The elements in the third period exhibit periodicity in both their chemical and
physical properties. A graph of the atomic and ionic radii across the third period is
shown.

(i) Explain the decrease in atomic radius across the third period.
Increase in nuclear charge
......................................................................................................................
Shielding effect remains constant thus the valence electrons are pulled closer to
…………………………………………………………………………………………………[ 2]
nucleus (increase in nuclear attraction between nucleus & valence electrons)
(ii) Explain why, for sodium to silicon, the ionic radii are less than the atomic
radii.
Ions of Na to Si have lost one valence electron shell
…………………………………………………………………………………………………[ 1]
OR Atoms of Na to Si have one more shell than the ions
(iii) Explain why, for phosphorus to chlorine, the ionic radii are greater than the
atomic radii.
. P to Cl when form ions, they gain electrons which increased repulsion between
.....................................................................................................................
electrons in the same shell
…………………………………………………………………………………………………[ 2]