ATOMIC STRUCTURE

Monday, 8 April 2024 12:18 pm

Dalton atomic theory

• Atoms of the same element are the same
• Atoms of different elements have different masses
• Atoms can be broken down any further
• Atoms combine to create more complex

Proton electron Neutron

mass 1 1/1836 1
Electric charge +1 0 -1

Subatomic particles in an electric field

An electron moves towards the positive side of the field, it has a greater arch than the proton
as it holds less mass and opposites attract.
A proton moves to the negative side as opposites attract.
A neutron travels straight as it has no charge.

ISOTOPES
These are atoms with the same atomic number but a different mass number

Relative atomic and relative isotopic mass

The mass of a single atom is too small to weigh so we use (carbon-12) atom as a standard.
We compare the masses of other atoms the this standard, which has a mass of 12 units

Relative atomic mass

The average weight of amass of a naturally occurring atom of an element on a scale where an
atom of caron 12 has the mass of excatly12 units

isotopicRelative mass
The mass of a particular isotope on a scale where an atom of caron 12 has the mass of
excatly12 units

Radioactivity
Isotopes of some elements have nuclei which break down spontaneously these are described
as radioactive isotopes
As the particles break down different particles go out. These are called emissions
Emission particle type stopped by
Alpha ( Helium nuclei( positively charges) Thin sheet of paper
Beta Electrons (produced by nuclear changes) 6mm thick aluminium’s
Gamma very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation thick lead sheet

Alpha decay
The isotope produced has a mass number of 4 unities lower and a charge of 2 units lower
than the original atom

MODULE 1 Page 1
Beta decay
The mass number stays the same but the number of protons increase by one

Gamma decay
Gamma rays can be emitted along with alpha or beta particles or in a process called electron
capture. A proton is converted to a neutron, so the mass number is stays the same but the
atomic number decreases by one

Use of radio isotopes

• Tracers for searching for faults in pipelines and for studying the working of certain
organs in the body iodide- 131 is used to study thyroid function
• In medicine radiotherapy for cancer treatment
• Dating objects carbon -14
• Smoke detectors Americium-241
• generating power uranium-235

Energy quanta and energy levels

The electrons in an atom have certain fixed values of energy. The smallest fixed amount of
energy required for a change is called the quantum of energy we say that the energy is
discrete or quantized. The electrons are arranged in energy levels which are quantized. The
atom is most stable when the electrons are at the lowest level possible for each of them.
The electrons are then said to be in their ground state. When an electron absorbs quantum
radiation it can moves up to a higher energy level. The electron is then said to be in an exited
state.
then when it falls to a lower energy level it release quantum energy.

MODULE 1 Page 2
ATOMIC EMISSION SPECTRA
When electrical or thermal energy is passed through a gaseous sample of an element, that
radiation is emitted only at certain wavelengths or frequency.

An emission spectrum differs from a normal visible light spectrum in that :

• Its made up of separate lines
• the lines converge as frequency increases

Hydrogen emission spectra

each line in the emission spectra is a result of elections moving from a higher energy level
to a lower level among the emiction spectra:

Lyman series ( seen in the ultraviolet region ) where previously excited electrons fall back to
the n=1 energy level

Balmer series (seen in the visible region )

where previously excited electrons fall back to the n=2 energy level

Also ∆E =h v

MODULE 1 Page 3
Also ∆E =h v
V= frequency of radiation
h= (planks constant (6.63 x 10^-34)
∆E = energy
Ionization energy
the energy needed to remove one electron from each atom in one mole of atoms of an
element in its gaseous state to form one mole of gaseous ions

things that affect ionization energy

• size of nuclear charge
• Distance between nucleus and electrons
• Shielding

first Ionization energy acrost a period

Across the period there is a general increase of ionization energy with increasing proton
number.
• The increase in nuclear charge outweighs the other two factors because successive
electrons are placed at the same outer shells there is not much difference in shielding
since the same number if inner electron shells

When a new period starts the is a sharp decrease in ionization energy. The outer electron goes
into a shell further from the nucleus and there is more shielding. both these factors outweigh
the effect of greater nuclear charge this explain the decrease in ionization energy down the
group.

MODULE 1 Page 4