ATOMIC STRUCTURE

MADE BY VIVEK MENON, ARSALAAN SHAIKH AND RAMCHANDRAN IYER

Nucleus:
As you know that every circle has a centre and the atom also is a circle, hence even it
has a centre called the nucleus.

Constituents of the nucleus:

Protons: Positively charged particles, they have a mass of 1 a.m.u.
The total number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number, and it is
denoted by the symbol Z.

An atom is electrically neutral. As protons are positively charged , there needs to be

some negative species to balance the positive charge. These negative species are called
electrons. Neutrons are neutral.

Question: If neutrons are neutral, then what is the need of neutrons in the atom?
Mass Number:

Definition: The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons present in an
atom of an element.

Mass number= Number of nucleons. [total number of protons and neutrons].

Isotopes:

Definition: Isotopes are atoms of the same element having same atomic number but
different mass numbers

Atomic mass: The mass of the atom of an element compared to 1/12th of the mass of a
carbon atom is called its atomic mass. Its unit is atomic mass unit.
Question: In atomic mass, why is the unified atomic mass compared to that of
carbon?

Electronic Configuration:

Definition: The distribution of electrons revolving in different shells or energy levels

around the nucleus of an atom of an element is called as electronic configuration.

Each shell has a specific capacity to hold electrons. The number of electrons contained
by a shell can be calculated by the formula 2n^2. [where n is the number of electron
shells as counted from the nucleus].
Valency: Valency is the combining capacity of an element.
Valency is always a whole number as the electrons cannot be cut into half while
reaction takes place between two atoms. [ionic or covalent reaction]

Cation: An ion of an element which is positively charged and is formed due to

loss of electrons .

Examples: Calcium ions, copper ions.

Anions: An ion of an element which is negatively charged and is formed due to

gain of electrons .

Example: Fluoride ion.

Chemical Bonding: The process by which an atom achieves stable electronic
configuration [octet or duplet] by sharing or transfer of electrons is known as chemical
bonding.

There are two kinds of a chemical bond, electrovalent and covalent.

Electrovalent bond: The bond formed between a metal and a non metal by the transfer of
electrons. It is also called as an ionic bond.

Covalent bond: The bond formed between two non metals by sharing of electrons.
ATOMIC ORBITAL DIAGRAMS
THANK YOU