TABLE O F C O N T E N T S

Introduction 1

Discussion 2
Atomic 2
Models
Atomic Structure 4
TheThree Subatomic 4
Particles
Atomic Number 5
andMass
Isotopes 6
Calculating theNumber ofSubatomic Particles 8
Activity 9

Evaluation 11
Answer K e y
14
References
18

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant i

a tom ic
structure
Z O O M I N G T H E TI N Y G I A N T

O b je c tive s
After studying this material, you should be able to:
distinguish the subatomic particles of an atom
describe the different atomic models
determine the number of subatomic particles in an
Introduction element
Atoms are fundamental units of zipping around, and these represent the
matter, including you and the things electrons. This, zooming the tiny giant,
around you. These are the smallest pictures a sheer size of the atom and the
whole structures that make up smallness of its subatomic particles
elements. the to the
Envision a giant football stadium, compared overall
the structure.
and in the very center of the stadium is a Together,
account subatomic
for the particles
mass and the charge of
tiny but a heavy marble. The whole an atom.
stadium is the atom. The marble Atoms are too small to be seen
represents the nucleus which constitute with a naked eye but with powerful
both the subatomic particles: protons microscopes. Brace yourself, as you
and neutrons. And picture all the way in dissect the anatomy of the tiny giant—
the stands, there are tiny little flies just atom!

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 1

Atomic Models how atom
TIME WARP b e c o m es an
atom
Do you know where the concept of atom dates back?
It all started with a Greek scientist and philosopher in the
name of Democritus. The theory of the atom dates at least as
far back as 440 B.C. Democritus' explanation of the atom
begins with a stone. A stone cut in half gives two halves of
the same stone. If the stone were to be continuously cut,
at some point there would exist a piece of the stone small
enough that it could no longer be cut. The term "atom" comes
from
must bethe Greek
the pointword for indivisible,
at which a being (anywhich Democritus
form of matter)
concluded
cannot be divided any more.
In the modern day, we already know that an atom
constitutes way tinier particles: protons, positively
Atomic
m o d e ls
charged particles; neutrons, neutrally charged particles
and electrons, negatively charged particles.
Democritus’ concept of an atom, has been represent what the
developed through time. The discovery of the structure of an
subparticles and proposition of atomic models traversed atom could look like,
from one scientist to another. based on what we know
about how atoms behave.
An atomic model is not
necessarily a true picture
of the exact structure of
an atom.

John Dalton proposed that all matter is

composed of very small things which he called
atoms. This was not a completely new concept
as the ancient Greeks (notably Democritus) had
proposed that all matter is composed of small,
indivisible (cannot be divided) objects. When
Dalton proposed his model electrons and the
J o h n Dalton nucleus were unknown. He put forth five
S p h e r e Model postulates to explain how atoms made up the
1803 world around us:
(1) all matter is composed of infinitely small particles, or atoms; (2) all atoms of a given
element are identical to one another and (3) are different from the atoms of all other
elements; (4) two or more elements can combine in a fixed ratio to form a compound;
and (5) atoms cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, but they can be
rearranged to form new substances.

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 2

 After the electron was discovered by J.J.
Thomson in 1897, people realized that atoms were
made up of even smaller particles than they had
previously thought. However, the atomic nucleus
had not been discovered yet and so the “plum
pudding model” was put forward in 1904. In this
model, the atom is made up of negative electrons
that float in a “soup” of positive charge, much like
J.J. Thomson
plums in a pudding or raisins in a fruit cake . Plum Pudding
190 4
Rutherford carried out some experiments
which led to a change in ideas around the atom.
His new model described the atom as a tiny,
dense, positively charged core called a nucleus
surrounded by lighter, negatively charged
electrons. Another way of thinking about this
E r n e s t R u t h e rfo rd model was that the atom was seen to be like a
N uc l e a r Model mini solar system where the electrons orbit the
191 nucleus like planets orbiting around the sun. A
simplified picture of this is shown alongside. This
1 model is sometimes known as the planetary
model of the atom.

There were, however, some problems

with Rutherford's model: for example it could not
explain the very interesting observation that
atoms only emit light at certain wavelengths or
frequencies. Niels Bohr solved this problem by
proposing that the electrons could only orbit the
nucleus in certain special orbits at different Neils Bh or
energy levels around the nucleus. Pla netar y Model
1913

The Schrodinger model assumes that the

electron is a wave and tries to describe the
regions in space, or orbitals, where electrons
are most likely to be found. Instead of trying to
tell us where the electron is at any time, the
Schrodinger model describes the probability that
an electron can be found in a given region of
E r wi n S c ro d i n ge r space at a given time. This model no longer tells
Q u a n t u m Mec ha ni ca l us where the electron is; it only tells us where it
191 might be.
1

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 3

 At o m i c refers to the structure of atom comprising of
a nucleus (center) in which

S t r u c t u re the protons (positively charged)

and neutrons (neutral) are present. The
negatively charged particles called electrons revolve around the center of
the nucleus.

At o m s
Atoms are composed of 2 regions:
Nucleus and Electron Cloud.

Nucleus
The center of the atom that contains the
mass of the atom

E l e c t ro n C l o u d
The region that surrounds the nucleus
that contains most of the space in the
atom.
th ree
Subatomic
Subatomic M as s
Pa rti c les
Par ti cles Charge (amu) L o ca ti o n The development of Atomic
Models proposed by the
P ro to n +1 1 Nucleus aforementioned scientists, led to
the discovery of the subatomic
N e u t ro n 0 1 nucleus particles of an atom.

E l e c t ro n -1 0 O r b i ta s
Pro to n s
•Protons are positively charged
subatomic particles. The charge of
a proton is 1e, which corresponds
e le c trons to approximately 1.602 × 10-19
•The mass of a proton is
pro to ns approximately 1.672 × 10-24
•Protons are over 1800 times
n eu tro ns heavier than electrons.
•The total number of protons in
the atoms of an element is always
equal to the atomic number of the
element.

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 4

N e u t ro n s
• The mass of a neutron is almost
the same as that of a proton i.e.
1.674×10-24
• Neutrons are electrically neutral
particles and carry no charge.
• Different isotopes of an element
have the same number of
protons but vary in the number of
neutrons present in their
respective nuclei.
E l e c t ro n s
• The charge of an electron is -1e,
which approximates to -1.602 ×
10-19
• The mass of an electron is
approximately 9.1 × 10-31.
• Due to the relatively negligible
mass of electrons, they are
ignored when calculating the
mass of an atom.

The m a s s e s o f s u b at o m i c parti cles are very tiny. Instead

of writing their actual masses in kilograms, we often use their
relative masses. The relative mass of a proton is 1, and a particle
with a relative mass smaller than 1 has less mass.
The mass of an electron is very small compared to a
proton
or a neutron. Since the nucleus contains protons and
neutrons, most of the mass of an atom is concentrated in its
nucleus.
Protons and electrons have electrical charges that are equal

ATOMICand opposite.
NU M B E R
At o m i c N u m b e r
The number of protons in an atom of an
element is its atomic number.
Remember that:
•all atoms of a given element have the
same number of protons
• atoms of different elements have
different numbers of protons
MAS S
NU M B E R
An atom contains equal numbers
of protons and electrons. Since protons
and electrons have equal and opposite
charges, this means that atoms are have
no overall electrical charge.
For example, the atomic number
of sodium is 11. Every sodium atom has
11 protons and 11 electrons. It has 11
positive charges and 11 negative
charges.

Mass Number Atoms of different elements

The mass number of an atom is its total usually have different mass numbers,
number of protons and neutrons. but they can be the same. For example,
the mass number of argon atoms and
calcium atoms can both be 40.

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 5

On the upper left corner of the element X we can find the mass number (A) and at
its bottom, the atomic number denoted by Z.

Ma s s
N umber

E le m e n t
Symbol
A
Z At o m i c
1
1H
Number
Electron trade constitutes the which is always an integer.
currency of chemical reactions. The
number of electrons in a neutral In contrast to the atomic
atom (that is, the atomic number) number, different forms of the
gives the element its unique identity. same element can have different
No two different elements can masses. They are called isotopes.
have the same atomic number. The following are representations
The periodic table is arranged by for some of the isotopes
order of increasing atomic number, hydrogen and carbon.
of

The atomic mass reported in The natural abundance of carbon-

the table for any 12 is nearly 100%, whereas that of
periodic given actually a carbon-13 is only about 1%. The
element is the masses of its
average reported mass is slightly greater
of
isotopes as found
weighted
in nature. Thus the than 12.00000 because of the small
mass carbon is reported as contribution of carbon-13. Therefore
of rather than 12.00000 the mass number, as found in
12.01115 it contains the periodic tables, does not have to be
because relative
contributions of both isotopes. an integer like the atomic number.

I s o to p e s
Atoms of the same element must have the same number of protons, but they can
have different numbers of neutrons. Atoms of the same element with different
numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. Isotopes of an element have:
• the same atomic number
• different mass numbers

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 6

Thre e i s o to pe s of hyd r o g e n
All hydrogen atoms contain one proton (and
one electron), but they can contain different numbers
of neutrons. Hydrogen-1 is the most abundant (most
common) isotope of hydrogen.
Isotope Symbol Protons Electrons Neutrons
1
Hydrogen-1 H 1 1 1-1=0
1
2
Hydrogen-2 H 1 1 2-1=1
1
3
Hydrogen-3 H 1 1 3-1=2
1

An isotope is named after the element and the mass number of its atoms. For
example, carbon-12 is an isotope of carbon with a mass number of 12.
All three isotopes of hydrogen have identical chemical properties. This is
because the number of electrons determines chemical properties, and all three
isotopes have one electron in their atoms.

Relati ve At o m i c M a s s
The relative atomic mass of an element is a
weighted average of the masses of the atoms of the
isotopes. It takes account of the abundance of each of
the isotopes of the element.

Relative atomic masses can be found in the

periodic table. They have the symbol Ar.
Take care not to confuse mass numbers and
relative atomic masses:
• mass numbers are always whole numbers
(protons or neutrons cannot be split into parts)
• relative atomic masses are often rounded to the
nearest
whole number, but are actually not whole numbers
For example, the relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5
rather than a whole number. This is because chlorine
contains two different isotopes, chlorine-35 and chlorine-
37.

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 7

 C a l c u l ati n g
t h e n u m b e r of S u b a t o m i c Pa rti c les
In an atom:
• The protons= the electrons N u m b e r of Pro to ns =
• If 20 protons are present in N u m b e r of
an atom then 20 electrons E l e c t ro n s
are there to balance the overall charge of the atom— atoms are neutral.
• The neutrons have no charge; therefore they do not have to equal the number
of protons or electrons.
• Atomic number: this number indicates T h e n u m b e r of
the number of protons in an atom pro to ns identi fi es
• Hydrogen’s atomic number is 1,
so it has 1 proton •t h2eprotons=
atom .
Helium
• Carbon’s atomic number is 6, • 29 protons= Cu
so is its protons
• Mass number: the number of protons
and neutrons in the nucleus Mass Number=
• Hydrogen can have a mass of Pro tons + N e u t ro n s
3. Since it has 1 proton, it must
have 2 neutrons.

D e te rm i n i n g t h e n u m b e r of
p ro to ns a n d ne utro ns
N u m b e r of Ne ut ron s = • Neon has a mass number of 20
M as s N u m b e r - At o m i c N u m b e r and an atomic number of 10
• Protons= 10 (same
• Lithium has a mass number of 7 and an atomic atomic
as number)
number of 3 • Neutrons= =
• Protons= 3 (same as atomic number) 20-10
(mass 10
• Neutrons= 7-3= 4 (mass number- number) atomic
number- atomic number)
W hat a b o u t th e
• The electrons are equal to the number of protons electrons?
• Therefore, e= p= atomic number
• Example: He has a mass number of 4 and an
atomic number of 2
• p+ = 2 At o m i c N u m b e r =
• =2 N u m b e r of E l e c t ro n s
• =2
n0

e-

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 8

Zo o m & Cross
Find then cross out all the listed words below.
A F S M P O S I T I V E B U L E D A

S H A K R J S S V N E U T R O N L T

K J V T N U A S A N A O L M A Y A O

R D H B O M S K B H A T D O G S P M

T N S K A M E D O U N I S O T O P S

Y E P N A V I V N E G A T I B E S I

O U A T O M I C S T R U C T U R E D

L T H P F E A G M L M D A L T O N I

O R A L O L P R E A S T H A T D O S

P A P O R E N H A P S T F U B I T Z

J R G S A C P I E L I S O T O P E X

N H O C G T K O H A A C K D O G H C

E E R T P R L F H S M P O S S I T E

U N I C O O N E G A T I V E W E H B

T T Q U E N O B O D Y W A N N A C E

R A L M S G A T O M I C N U M B E R

A N U C L E U S S U S A L S F P K P

L H E L E C T R O N C L O U D L T E

Isotope
Atoms Neutral Electron Atomic Number
Positive Nucleus Neutron
Atomic Mass
Negative Proton Electron Cloud
Atomic Structure

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 9

Use some of the words crossed to complete the passage below.

Everything is made up of particles called . They are

made of subatomic particles called _, , and
_. The _ and are in
the
and the electrons are located in the
.
Canyou
Grid Lock unlock
the grid?

Before you answer the Gridlocks below, fill in the table of isotopes:

Isotope Protons Neutrons Electrons

9F
19

35 Cl
17
2, 8, 7

21 H

7 Li
3

9 18
4
17 2,7
1
3 1
1
10 2,1

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 10

Each row, column and 2 x 2 box contains information about each of the isotopes. Use
your problem solving skills and the answers in the table above to fill in the blank
boxes.

Isotope Protons

35 Cl
17

2,7

Neutrons Electrons

Evaluati on
I. SUBATOMIC PARTICLES
A. Label the parts of an atom on the diagram below.

1.

+ + 2.

+++
3.

4.

5.

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 11

B. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.

6. The central part of an atom is called the .

7. The electron has a charge.
8. The has no charge.
9. The nucleus contains the and the .
10. are found in the orbitals.
11. The and the have the same mass.

II. ATOMIC MODELS

Name each (a) atomic model below, supply the (b) name of the discoverer and cite at
least (c) one salient feature of the model.

1. a.

b.

c.

2. a.

b.

c.

3. a.

b.

c.

4. a.

b.

c.

5. a.

b.

c.

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 12

III. NUMBER OF SUBATOMIC PARTICLES IN AN ELEMENT
A. Supply the asked information for each number.

An atom contains 32 protons and 48 neutrons.

1. What is its atomic number?

2. How many electrons does it have?
3. What is the mass of the atom?
4. What is the name of the element?

B. Complete the table to show the missing numbers of particles as well as the
corresponding symbols of the elements.

Number Number
Atomic Mass Number
Symbol of of
Number Number of Protons
Electrons Neutrons

Na 11 12

K 39 19

38 50

F 9 10

20 40 20

50 50 69

I 53 127

Mg 12 12

108 47 47

1 1 1

S 32 16

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 13

Answer Key

A F S M P O S I T I V E B U L E D A

S H AK R J S S V N E U TR O N LT K J V TNU ASAN AO LMAYAO RD H

B O MS K B HATD O G S PM TN S KAME D O UNI SOTO PS YE P NA

V I V N E GATI B E S I O U ATO M I C STR UC TUR E D LTHPF EAG M

LM D ALT O N I O R ALO LP R EAST H AT D O S PAP O R E N HAP S TF

U B I T Z J R G S A C P I E L I S O T O P E X N H O C G T K O H AA C K D O G H

C E E R TP RLF H S M PO S S ITE UN I C O O N E GATI V E W E H B TT

Q U E N O B O D YWAN N AC E R ALM S GAT O M I C N U M B E R A N

U C L E U S S U S A L S F P K P

L H E L E C T R O R B I T A L S T E

Isotope
Atoms Neutral Electron
Atomic Number
Positive Nucleus
Atomic Mass
Negative Proton Neutron
Atomic Structure
Orbitals

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 14

9
 Everything is made up of particles called atoms. They are made of
subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The protons
and neutrons are in the nucleus and the electrons are located in the
orbitals.

Isotope Protons Neutrons Electrons

9 10 2, 7
9F
19

35 Cl
17
17 18 2, 8, 7

21 H 1 1 1

7 Li 3 4 2, 1
3

Isotope Protons

35 Cl
17
7
3 Li 1 9

19 F
2 3 17
1H 9

4 18 2,7 1

10 1 2,8,7 2, 1

Neutrons Electrons

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 15

I. SUBATOMIC PARTICLES
A.1. proton
2. neutron
3. electron
4. nucleus
5. orbitals

B.6. nucleus
7. negative
8. neutron
9. proton,
neutron
10. electr
ons
11. proton
,
neutro
n
II. ATOMIC
MODELS
1. a.
Spher
e
Model
b. Joh
n
Dalt
on
c. Matter is made up of small indivisible particles called atoms; atoms of
particular element differ from other elements.
2. a. Quantum Mechanical Model
b. Erwin Schrodinger
c. Electrons don’t move around the nucleus in orbits, but in clouds where
their position is uncertain.
3. a. Plum Pudding
b. J.J. Thomson
c. Electrons are
recognized
as
components
of atoms.
4. a. Nuclear
Model
b. Ernest
At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 16
B.

Number Number
Atomic Mass Number
Symbol of of
Number Number of Protons
Electrons Neutrons

Na 11 23 11 11 12

K 19 39 19 19 20

Sr 38 88 38 38 50

F 9 19 9 9 10

Ca 20 40 20 20 20

Sn 50 119 50 50 69

I 53 127 53 53 74

Mg 12 24 12 12 12

Ag 47 108 47 47 61

He 2 4 2 2 2

S 16 32 16 16 16

At o m i c Structure: Z o o m i n g th e Tiny Giant 17

 References
Admin. (2019, November 20). Atomic Structure - Electrons, Protons, Neutrons and
Atomic Models. Retrieved June 2, 2020, from https://byjus.com/jee/atomic-
structure/

Biswas, A. (2015, January 24). Atomic structure.ppt 1. Retrieved from https://

www.slideshare.net/amitbiswas420/atomic-structureppt-1

Boundless. (n.d.). Boundless Chemistry. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-chemistry/chapter/the-structure-
of-the-atom

Isotopes - Atomic structure - AQA - GCSE Combined Science Revision - AQA Trilogy
- BBC Bitesize. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2, 2020,
from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwn8b82/revision/5

L. (2014, August 19). Structure of atom ppt. Retrieved

from https://www.slideshare.net/lekshmisg91/structure-of-atom-ppt

sruthi832 Follow. (2014, September 19). Atomic structure ppt. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/sruthi832/atomic-structure-ppt-39287596

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