Atomic Structure

PREPARED BY MS. QUENNIE S. BROCA

The Structure of the
Atom
 Based on Dalton’s atomic theory, we can define
atom as the basic unit of an element that can enter
into chemical combination. Dalton imagined an atom
that was both extremely small and indivisible.
However, a series of investigation that began in the
1850s and extended in the twentieth century clearly
demonstrated that atom usually possess internal
structure; that is, they are made up of even smaller
particles, which are called subatomic particles. This
research led to the discovery of the three such
particles – electrons, protons and neutrons.
The Subatomic
Particles
Electrons
Electrons were discovered by John Joseph (J.J.) Thomson in 1897. After many experiments
involving cathode rays, J.J. Thomson demonstrated the ratio of mass to electric charge of
cathode rays. He confirmed that cathode rays are fundamental particles that are negatively
charged; these cathode rays become known as electrons. Robert Millikan, through oil drop
experiments, found the value of the electronic charge.
Electrons are located in an electron cloud, which is the area surrounding the nucleus of the
atom. There is usually a higher probability of finding an electron closer to the nucleus of an
atom. Electrons can be abbreviated as 𝑒 − . Electrons have a negative charge that is equal in
magnitude to the positive charge of the protons. However, their mass is considerably less than
that of a proton or neutron (and such is usually considered insignificant). Unequal amounts of
protons and electrons create ions: positive cations and negative anions.
Thomson’sPlum-Pudding Model
Protons
Protons were discovered by Ernest
Rutherford in the year 1919, when he
performed his gold foil experiment. He
projected alpha particles (helium nuclei) at
gold foil, and the positive alpha particles were
deflected. He concluded that protons exist in a
nucleus and have a positive nuclear charge. The
atomic number or proton number is the
number of protons present in an atom. The
atomic number determines an element (e.g., the
element of atomic number six (6) is carbon).
Rutherford’s Nuclear Model of the atom
Neutrons
Neutrons were discovered by James
Chadwick in 1932, when he demonstrated that
penetrating radiation incorporated beams of
neutral particles. Neutrons are located in the
nucleus with the protons. Along with protons,
they make up almost all the mass of the atom. The
number of neutrons is called the neutron number
and can be found by subtracting the proton
number from the atomic mass number. The
neutrons in an element determine the isotope of
an atom, and often its stability. The number of
neutrons is not necessarily equal to the number of
protons.
 • 𝐴𝑚𝑢 is the SI symbol for the atomic mass unit.
• The positive charge of protons cancels the negative
charge of the electrons. Neutrons have no charge.
• With regard to mass, protons and neutrons are very
similar, and have a much greater mass than
electrons. Compared with neutrons and protons,
the mass of an electron is usually negligible.
• Spin is associated with the rotation of a particle.
Protons, neutrons, and electrons each have a total
spin of 1Τ2.

Particle Electric Charge 𝑪 Atomic Mass 𝒈 Atomic Mass Spin

Charge 𝑨𝒎𝒖

Protons +1.6022 × 10−19 +1 1.6726 × 10−24 1.0073 1/2

Neutrons 0 0 1.6740 × 10−24 1.0078 1/2

Electrons −1.6022 × 10−19 −1 9.1094 × 10−28 0.00054858 1/2
Atomic Numbers,
Mass Numbers, and
Isotopes
 What makes an atom of one element different from an atom of
another element is that the atoms of each element have a characteristic
number of protons. Indeed, the number of protons in an atom of any
particular element is called the element’s atomic number. Because an
atom has no net electrical charge, the number of electrons it contains
must be equal to the number of protons.
 Atoms of a given element can
differ in the number of neutrons they
contain and, consequently, in mass. For
example, most atoms of carbon have six
neutrons, although some have more, and
some have less. The symbol 126𝐶 (read
“carbon-twelve,” carbon-12) represents
the carbon containing six protons and six
neutrons. The atomic number of is shown
by the subscript; the superscript is called
the mass number, is the number of protons
plus neutrons in the atom.
 Because all atoms of a given element have the same
atomic number, the subscript is redundant and is often
omitted. Thus, the symbol for carbon-12 can be
represented simply as 12C. As one more example of this
notation, carbon atoms that contain six protons and eight
neutrons have a mass of 14, are represented as 14
6𝐶 or 14C,

and are referred to as carbon-14.

 Atoms with identical atomic number, but different mass numbers
(that is, same number of protons but different number of neutrons) are
called isotopes of one another. Several isotopes of carbon are listed
below. We will generally use superscripts only when referring to a
particular isotope of an element.
Some Isotopes of Carbon
The following equations summarize the relationships between and among the
concepts discussed.
𝒁=𝒑
𝑨=𝒑+𝒏
𝒏=𝑨−𝒑
where 𝑍 = atomic number
𝐴 = mass number
𝑝 = number of protons
𝑒 = number of electrons
𝑛 = number of neutrons
For neutral species: 𝑝 = 𝑒
 Example
Complete the table.

Nuclide 𝑨 𝒁 𝑷 𝒏
1) U 13 7
2) V 11 12
3) W 35 17
4) X 3 2
5) Y 1 0

Solution:
Nuclide U:
𝑛 = 𝐴−𝑝
𝑛 = 13 − 7
𝒏=𝟔

𝑍=𝑝
𝒁=𝟕
 Example
Complete the table.

Nuclide 𝑨 𝒁 𝑷 𝒏
1) U 13 7 7 6
2) V 11 12
3) W 35 17
4) X 3 2
5) Y 1 0

Solution:
Nuclide V:
𝐴=𝑝+𝑛
𝐴 = 11 + 12
𝑨 = 𝟐𝟑

𝑍=𝑝
𝒁 = 𝟏𝟏
 Example
Complete the table.

Nuclide 𝑨 𝒁 𝑷 𝒏
1) U 13 7 7 6
2) V 23 11 11 12
3) W 35 17
4) X 3 2
5) Y 1 0

Solution:
Nuclide W:
𝑝=𝑍
𝒑 = 𝟏𝟕

𝑛 = 𝐴−𝑝
𝑛 = 35 − 17
𝑨 = 𝟏𝟖
 Example
Complete the table.

Nuclide 𝑨 𝒁 𝑷 𝒏
1) U 13 7 7 6
2) V 23 11 11 12
3) W 35 17 17 18
4) X 3 2
5) Y 1 0

Solution:
Nuclide X:
𝑝=𝐴−𝑛
𝑝 = 3−2
𝒑=𝟏

𝑍=𝑝
𝒁=𝟏
 Example
Complete the table.

Nuclide 𝑨 𝒁 𝑷 𝒏
1) U 13 7 7 6
2) V 23 11 11 12
3) W 35 17 17 18
4) X 3 1 1 2
5) Y 1 0

Solution:
Nuclide Y:
𝐴=𝑝+𝑛
𝐴=1+0
𝑨=𝟏

𝑍=𝑝
𝒁=𝟏
 Example
Complete the table.

Nuclide 𝑨 𝒁 𝑷 𝒏
1) U 13 7 7 6

2) V 23 11 11 12

3) W 35 17 17 18

4) X 3 1 1 2

5) Y 1 1 1 0
Panagdait sa
Tanan!
THANK YOU!