Chapter 2 – Atoms, Molecules and Ions

Practice Problem
A container holds 20 spheres, some red and some
yellow. The red spheres each have a mass of 0.93 g
and the yellow spheres have a mass of 0.11 g.

If the average mass per sphere in the sample is

0.47 g, are there more red or yellow spheres?

ANSWER: If there were equal numbers of red and

yellow the average mass per sphere would be 0.52 g. But
since the cited average is less than the simple numerical
average there must be more of the lighter spheres; that
is, there are more yellow spheres than red spheres.
Average mass
of spheres
What is the range for our possible answer?
• 10 spheres of 2.5g
In other words, MUST our average be between?
• 30 spheres of 3.5g
Greater than 2.5g (the least massive sphere)
• 15 spheres of 5.0 g
Less than 5.0g (the most massive sphere)

To calculate the average, calculate the total mass of ALL spheres, then divide by
the total number of spheres! (55 spheres total)

Average =
Question #1
What makes up the nucleus of an atom?

A. Protons
B. Neutrons
C. Electrons and Protons
D. Protons and Neutrons
E. Electrons and Neutrons
Structure of the Atom
Name Charge Charge (C) Mass (amu) Mass (g) Location
(symbol) (Relative)
Proton (p+) 1+ +1.602 x 10-19 1.00727 1.67262 x 10-24 Nucleus
Neutron (n0) 0 0 1.00866 1.67493 x 10-24 Nucleus
Outside the
Electron (e-) 1- -1.602 x 10-19 0.00054858 9.10939 x 10-28
nucleus

NOTE: protons and neutrons have a mass of basically 1 amu,

while electrons are comparatively almost massless
Atomic mass, mass number & atomic symbol
A
Z X Isotopes have the same
number of protons, but
X = Atomic symbol of the element
different numbers of
neutrons!
A = mass number; A = Z + N

Z = atomic number
(the number of protons in the nucleus)
N = number of neutrons in the nucleus
Number of neutrons = mass number – atomic number
Question #2
What is the correct identity of an element with the
following symbol and how many neutrons does it have?

X
79
35

Br
79
A. Gold, 114 neutrons
B. Bromine, 44 neutrons
Q: Why don’t we need to necessarily write a
C. Gold, 44 neutrons number here?

D. Bromine, 114 neutrons A: The identity of the element defines and is

defined by the number of protons!
Activity: Isotopes
Determine the number of protons and neutrons
in each of the following isotopes:
35
17 Cl 17 protons, 18 neutrons

carbon-14 6 protons, 8 neutrons

198
Au 79 protons, 119 neutrons
Activity: Isotope Symbols 2

Practice writing the isotope symbols for the

following isotope pairs.
uranium-235 and uranium-238

235 238
92 U and 92 U

lithium-6 and lithium-7

6 7
3 Li and 3 Li
Average Atomic Mass
• Each isotope has a mass equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons.

Br-79: 78.918337 amu Why isn’t it 79 amu?

Br-81: 80.9162906 amu Why isn’t it 81 amu?

These are exact masses

(1 amu = 1.66053873 x 10 kg)
-27
determined by mass spectroscopy
 Isn’t 1 AMU the mass of a nucleon?
• Nucleon = a proton or a neutron (a nuclear particle)

Actually, nucleons will have different masses depending

on the size of the atom (i.e. Hydrogen vs. Platinum).

Smaller atoms (hydrogen) can undergo nuclear fusion,

converting mass into Energy, while larger ones undergo
nuclear fission. [E = mc2]

Exact definition: 1 AMU = 1/12th the mass of a

Carbon-12 nucleus
Don’t worry about this graph too much for
now, we will revisit later in the course!
 Atomic Mass vs. Mass Number
Mass number = the number of nucleons in an
10
element/isotope.
Ne
Eg. Carbon-12 vs. Carbon-14 20.18

Atomic Mass usually refers to average atomic

mass, which is found on the periodic table. This
value is also the molar mass (although units are
different).
 Calculating the average atomic mass for an element
given the abundances and masses of the isotopes
An element has two naturally occurring isotopes:
Isotope 1 120.9038 amu relative abundance 57.40%
Isotope 2 122.9042 amu
What is the atomic mass, and what is the identity of this element?

Solution:
Q: Where did we get this
100% – 57.40% = 42.60% (Isotope 2) element?

120.9038(0.5740) + 122.9042(0.4260) = A: The periodic table! This is

the atomic mass of Antimony
121.8 amu, Sb (Sb)
 Calculating abundances for both
isotopes
Lithium, whose compounds are used in storage batteries, has two naturally
occurring isotopes:
6
Li (isotopic mass = 6.015121 amu) and 7Li (isotopic mass = 7.016003 amu).

What is the approximate abundance of each isotope based on an atomic mass of

6.9409 amu for lithium?
6.015121(x) + 7.016003 (1 - x) = 6.9409
6.015121 x + 7.016003 – 7.016003 x = 6.9409
Hint: Let the percent of Li-6 be (1-x)
-1.00088200 x + 7.016003 = 6.9409
and let the percent of Li-7 be “x” -1.00088200 x = -0.0075103
x = 0.075

6
Li = 8%; 7Li = 92%
The Periodic Table Atomic
Number

10

Ne
20.18

Average
atomic
mass (amu)

Ne is the
Symbol for
neon
Wrapping up the week!
• Last day of zoom class scheduled for tomorrow! (FLMG265 on Monday)

• “In-Class quiz” for week 1 – will be posted as a take-home. Opens from

end of class tomorrow. Post your solutions before 11:59pm!

• IAs will lead our last remote class tomorrow

• No Reading Quiz this week – but don’t get used to it!