Atoms

Atoms
• Atoms are the basic building blocks of all
matter.
• EVERYTHING on Earth is made of
atoms…even the air and your body.
 e-
Atoms are made of three particles:
e- + N+
• Protons (+)
N++N
• Neutrons (N)
e-
• Electrons (e-)
Electron
Proton Neutron
 Protons

• Protons
• Located in the nucleus N
• Have a positive charge
• Have a mass of one
 Neutrons

Neutrons
• Located in the nucleus N
N
• Have no charge
• Have a mass of one –similar to the proton N
 Electrons

Electrons
• have a negative charge
e -
• orbit the nucleus of the atom
• are very small (have basically NO
mass)
• in a neutral atom, there are the same
e-
number of protons and electrons
 Atom Structure
Neutron

Proton
+ +
Electron

-
 Atomic Number
Elements contain one or more of the same type of atom!
All known elements can be found on the periodic table.

• Elements can be identified by their atomic number.

• The atomic number is the number of PROTONS in the
atoms of an element.
• It can be used like a social security number for people.
• It is used to IDENTIFY the element from the
Periodic Table.
Example:

An element with 6 protons has an atomic number of 6 and is

the element Carbon from the Periodic Table.
 Now You Try
• Identify the element and tell how many
protons it has:
1) Atomic number 7 Nitrogen: 7 protons
2) Atomic Number 20 Calcium: 20 protons

• Identify the element and give its atomic number.

3) 15 protons Phosphorus: Atomic number 15
4) 4 protons Helium: Atomic Number 4

• Give the atomic number and number of protons.

5) Argon Atomic number 18; 18 protons
6) Sulfur Atomic number 16; 16 protons
 Atomic Mass Number
• The atomic mass number includes the
number of protons and neutrons, since they
are the two largest particles in the atom.

• Since they are both located in the nucleus,

the mass of the atom is located
in the nucleus.

 Atomic Mass Number = protons +

neutrons
Using the Periodic Table
Using the Periodic Table

2
Using the Periodic Table

2
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
2
protons)
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
He
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
He
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
Element symbol-
gives the name of the
He
element.
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
Element symbol-
gives the name of the He
element.
4
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
Element symbol-
gives the name of the He
element.
4
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
Element symbol-
gives the name of the He
element.
Atomic mass number-
4
The number of
protons + neutrons.
 Using the Periodic Table
Atomic Number-
identifies the element.
(also the number of
protons) 2
Element symbol-
gives the name of the He
element.
Atomic mass number- 4
The number of
protons + neutrons.
 Now You Try
For the following pictures, give the name of the element, its atomic
number, number of protons, and atomic mass number.

Beryllium Sodium Oxygen

Atomic number 4 Atomic number 11 Atomic number 8
4 protons 11 protons 8 protons
Atomic mass number 9 Atomic mass number 23 Atomic Mass Number 16
 Compounds contain more than one type of atom!
Example of organic compound (a compound with carbon and
hydrogen atoms):
 Methane (natural gas) – CH4 (1 atom of carbon and
four atoms of hydrogen)

Example of inorganic compound (a compound without carbon

and hydrogen atoms):
 Water – H2O (2 atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen)