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Kean Tan

TOPIC 2: ATOMIC STRUCTURE

2.1 The nuclear atom

Syllabus:

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Understandings:

Atoms contain a positively charged dense nucleus composed of protons and neutrons (nucleons).
Negatively charged electrons occupy the space outside the nucleus:

Atoms:

• Composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons (except for H)

Protons Neutrons Electrons
Charge +1 0 -1
Mass (u) 1 1 0.0005
Location Nucleus Nucleus Energy levels orbiting
nucleus
• Atomic number (Z) = number of protons within nucleus of atom
• Mass number (A) = sum of protons and neutrons within nucleus of atoms
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Kean Tan

Ions:

• Charged atoms
• Cations – lost electrons, positive charge (e.g. 2+)
• Anions – gained electrons, negative charge (e.g. 3-)
Isotopes:

• Single element with varying number of neutrons

• Same chemical properties (electrons unchanged)
• Different physical properties (mass changed)

The mass spectrometer is used to determine the relative atomic mass of an element from its isotopic

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composition:

Mass spectrometer: l.c

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• Used to determine relative atomic mass of element based on its isotopic composition
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1. Vaporised sample is injected into instrument

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2. Atoms are ionised with a stream of high energy electrons in the ionisation chamber
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3. The instrument is set to only produce ions with a single positive charge
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4. Resulting unipositive ions pass through holes in parallel plates, under influence of an electric
field where they are accelerated
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5. The ions are then deflected by an external magnetic field

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• Amount of deflections depends on mass of ion and its charge

• Smaller mass or higher charge = greater deflection
• Ions with a particular mass/charge ratio are then recorded on a detector
• It measures the mass and relative amounts of all ions present
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Kean Tan

2.2 Electron configuration

Syllabus:

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Understandings:

Emission spectra are produced when photons are emitted from atoms as excited electrons return to a
lower energy level.

Electromagnetic spectrum:

• Continuous spectrum (all wavelengths)

• Range of electromagnetic radiation
• Higher wavelength/lower frequency = lower energy and vice versa
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Kean Tan

Emission spectra:

• Line spectrum (only a few wavelengths)

• Shows wavelengths which correspond with energy emitted when electrons fall from higher
to lower levels

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• Occurs as an atom’s electrons are heated to supply energy and promoted from ground to an
excited state

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The line emission spectrum of hydrogen provides evidence for the existence of electrons in discrete
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energy levels, which converge at higher energies.

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Hydrogen emission spectrum:

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• The lines in the spectrum converge towards the high energy end
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• Falling to the first shell (n = 1) produces largest energy change – UV radiation

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• Falling to the second shell (n = 2) – visible range

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Falling to the third shell (n = 3) – infrared radiation

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The main energy level or shell is given an integer number, n, and can hold a maximum number of
electrons, 2n2:

Bohr’s model:

• Atoms hold electrons in discrete shells, filled in order from lowest to higher
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• Shells of higher energy converge, based on hydrogen line emission spectrum

• Each can hold maximum of 2n2 electrons (n = number of shell)

A more detailed model of the atom describes the division of the main energy level into s, p, d and f
sub-levels of successively higher energies. Sub-levels contain a fixed number of orbitals, regions of
space where there is a high probability of finding an electron:

Schrodinger’s model:

• Electrons are found in orbitals within sub-shells of electron shells

Orbitals:

• 3D shapes with high probability that an electron will be located there

• Each orbital contains up to 2 electrons, which spin in opposite direction
o Allows them to exist in same region despite repulsion
• Each orbital must have at 1 electron before a subshell can be filled
o Minimises repulsion to keep atoms stable

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• Lowest energy orbitals in lowest subshell in lowest shell must be filled first

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Subshell s p d f
Orbitals 1 3 5 7
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Electrons 2 6 10 14
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Shape Spherical Dumbbell (with

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node)
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Each orbital has a defined energy state for a given electronic configuration and chemical
environment and can hold two electrons of opposite spin:

Writing electron configuration:

• Write shell number, orbital type, and number of electrons

o e.g. 1s2
• Sometimes, an orbital from the next subshell is filled if it is at a lower energy level
o E.g. 4s is filled before 3d
• Electrons are lost from the outermost orbital, even if it has less electrons
o E.g. electrons are removed from 4s before 3d
• Condensed form is based on electrons added on to the closest noble gas
o E.g. scandium – [Ar] 3d1, 4s2
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Kean Tan

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Exceptions:
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• Copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) do not fill up 4s shell

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It only holds 1 electron in order to balance 3d and 4s orbitals

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• Copper – [Ar] 3d10, 4s1

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• Chromium – [Ar] 3d5, 4s1

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