ATOMIC STRUCTURE

Atoms
• The atom is an electrically neutral, spherical entity composed of a
positively charged central nucleus surrounded by one or more
negatively charged electrons.

The atomic nucleus consists of protons and neutrons.

Properties of the Three Key Subatomic Particles
Charge Mass
Name Relative Absolute (C)* Relative Absolute (g) Location in
(Symbol) (amu)† Atom

Proton 1+ +1.60218x10-19 1.00727 1.67262x10-24 Nucleus

(p+)

Neutron 0 0 1.00866 1.67493x10-24 Nucleus

(n0)

Electron 1- -1.60218x10-19 0.00054858 9.10939x10-28 Outside nucleus

(e-)

*
The coulomb (C) is the SI unit of charge.
†
The atomic mass unit (amu) equals 1.66054x10 -24 g.
Atoms and Isotopes
Z = atomic number
(the number of protons in the nucleus)
N = number of neutrons in the nucleus
X = Atomic symbol of the element A = mass number; A = Z + N

• Isotopes are atoms of an element with the same

number of protons, but a different number of
neutrons.

• Isotopes have the same atomic number, but a

different mass number.
Bohr’s Atomic Model
• Proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913
• An improvement to the existing Rutherford Atomic Model (1911)

• Postulated the following:

1. The electron can only revolve on a fixed circular
orbit around the nucleus called stationary states or
energy shells/levels. The atom does not radiate
energy while in one of its stationary states.
2. When the electron is at the lowest energy state, it is
on ground state. If the electron revolves at a higher
orbit, then it is in an excited state.
3. It can only transfer between stationary states by
either emitting or absorbing energy in a form of light
Quantum Mechanical Model of the Atom
• For both models, energy is quantized.
• Atomic Orbitals → region of space around the nucleus where the
electrons are located.

Electron probability density in the ground-state H atom.

Quantum Numbers
• Used to describe Atomic Orbitals.
• Consists of 4 Quantum Numbers
• Principal Quantum Number (n) – defines the shell in which a particular
orbital is found. It tells the average relative distance of an electron from the
nucleus: It must be a positive integer (n = 1,2,3,…)
• Angular Momentum Quantum Number (l) – specifies the subshells
within the shell. Has a limit of 0 to n – 1 (e.g. n = 1, l = 0; n = 2, l = 0, 1)
Quantum Numbers
• Magnetic Quantum Number (ml) – indicates the spatial
orientation of the orbital. Describes the orientation of the region in
space occupied by an electron with respect to an applied magnetic
field. It is an integer with values from –l to +l
Quantum Numbers
• Electron Spin Quantum Number (ms) – designates the direction
of the electron spin. Only has 2 values + for ↑ spin and - for ↓
spin.

One f orbital