Atoms, Molecules, and

Ions
In this lesson, I will be able to…
 describe and discuss the basic laws of chemical change.
 discuss how Dalton’s Atomic Theory could explain the basic laws of chemical
changes.
 give information provided by the atomic number and mass number of an
atom and its isotopes.
 differentiate atoms, molecules, and ions.
Early Ideas
about Matter
 Empedocles – the first
elements
“atomos” – Democritus
(450 BC)
 Aristotle – he added
“quintessence”
The ancient Greeks
tried to explain matter,
but the scientific study
of the atom began with
John Dalton in the early
1800.
 BASIC LAWS OF MATTER
or
BASIC LAWS OF CHEMICAL
CHANGES
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF
MASS
Quantitative analysis of chemicals
Antoine Laurent Lavoisier – father of
Modern Chemistry
 No mass is lost in the system.
 He used mercuric oxide.
Law of Conservation of Mass:
Matter can neither be created nor
destroyed
Law of conservation of mass
Think Critically!
1. How many grams of water will
be formed if 1.00 g hydrogen gas
reacts with 8.00 g oxygen?
LAW OF CONSTANT (DEFINITE)
PROPORTIONS
Developed Law of Definite Proportions or Law of Definite
Composition
Joseph Proust (1700’s)
Law of Definite Proportions:
Different samples of the same compound always
contain its constituent elements in the same
proportions by mass
Law of Constant (Definite)
Proportions
Pure Water

Hydrogen + Oxygen  pure water

1 gram of H + 8 grams of O  8:1 ratio for water

2 g of H + ??? g of O  8:1 ratio for water

LAW OF MULTIPLE PROPORTIONS
 John Dalton (1800’s)
 School teacher that proposed the first modern-day idea of atoms

Law of Multiple Proportions:

If 2 elements combine to form more than one
compound, the masses of one element that combine
with a fixed mass of the other element are in small
whole number ratios
Law of Multiple
Proportions
For example…
 Carbon monoxide
Carbon + oxygen  CO
1.00 g of C + 1.33 g of O  2.33 g of CO
1:1 ratio
 Carbon dioxide
Carbon + oxygen  CO2
1.00 g of C + 2.66 g of O  3.66 g of CO2
1: 2 ratio
Dalton’s Atomic Theory - 1808
1. All matter is composed of atoms which cannot be
subdivided.
2. Atoms of same element are identical (size, mass,
reactivity) and are different from the atoms of another
element.
3. Atoms combine to form compounds in simple, fixed,
whole number ratios.
4. Chemical reactions involve the separation,
combination, or rearrangement of atoms; it does not
result in their creation or destruction.
The Atomic Structure
The atom
basic unit of matter
composed of subatomic
particles
◦ electrons
◦ (J. J. Thomson)
◦ protons
◦ (Eugene Goldstein)
◦ neutron
◦ (James Chadwick)
Modern View of Atomic Structure
Relative
Particle Symbol Mass (kg)
Charge

proton + p+ +1 1.6726 x 10-27

nucleons

neutron 0 n0 0 1.67510 x 10-27

electron e- -1 9.1096 x 10-31

Modern View of Atomic Structure
Relative
Particle Mass (kg) Location
Charge

p+ + +1 1.6726 x 10-27 Inside the nucleus

n0 0 0 1.67510 x 10-27 Inside the nucleus

Outside the
e-
-1 9.1096 x 10-31
nucleus
Atomic Mass Unit (amu)
defined as a more convenient unit for reporting
mass of small numbers of atoms
12
C is used as the reference
1 amu is defined as exactly 1/12 of a 12C atom
Getting Information from the Periodic Table

Atomic # = # p+ in nucleus

6
Elemental symbol
C
12.0111 Atomic mass
Isotopic Notation
Atomic number (Z) = number of p+ in the nucleus and e-
Mass number (A) = sum of number of p+ & n0 in nucleus
For a neutral atom, number of e- = number of p+
Examples

1 4 12 16 63
1
H 2 He 6
C 8O 30
Zn

Mass number (A)

Atomic number (Z)

Isotopes
All atoms in an element have the same atomic number
However, 2 atoms of the same element can have different
mass numbers – called isotopes
Isotopes have:
◦ Same # of p+
◦ Different # of no
Some Common Isotopes
1 12 235
H 6
C 92 U
1

2 13 238
1H 6
C 92 U

3 14
1H 6
C
Common isotopes
 Carbon-12 (6-protons, 6-neurtrons)
 Carbon-13 (6-protons, 7-neutrons)
 Carbon-14 (6-protons, 8-neutrons)
Unstable isotopes are called radioisotopes or radionuclides emit radiation,
causing the nucleus of a different element which is more stable
Radioactive decay - the process of emission of radiation
From Atoms to
Compounds
MOLECULES
combination of the same elements or different elements
Polyatomic
◦ contains three or more atoms
◦ CO2, and O3
Diatomic
◦ contains only two atoms
◦ Cl2, and HCl

Molecules, like atoms are considered as electrically neutral.

IONS
o atoms or molecules that have a charge
o Monoatomic Ion
o Polyatomic Ion
cations – positive charge (usually metallic elements)
◦ Mg2+, Al3+, Na+
anions – negative charge (usually nonmetallic elements)
◦ Cl-, O2-, PO33- ,
 Monoatomic Ions
Element p+ e- n0 Charge Symbol
Chlorine 17 18 18 -1 Cl-
Sodium 11 10 12 +1 Na+