Atoms, Ions, Isotopes

Senior Chemistry
Rutherford's Gold Foil experiment
•Gold foil simulation https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/rutherford-scattering

Explanation of the experiment:

https://www.sciencefacts.net/gold-foil-experiment.html

https://sciencefacts.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Gold-Foil-
Experiment.jpg

Read more about Rutherford here

https://www.sciencehistory.org/historical-profile/ernest-rutherford
 Sub-atomic particle Symbol Drawing Location Charge Mass

The Atom Proton p+ Nucleus +1 1amu

An atom consists of three sub-atomic particles:

• Nucleus (made of protons and
Neutron n0 Nucleus 0 1amu

neutrons)
Electron e- Around the nucleus -1 ∽0amu

• Electrons travel in space about the

nucleus in regions know as orbitals

Z is the atomic number, A is the mass number

 Size of sub-atomic particles
1.672 x 10-27kg 1.675 x 10-27kg 9.109 x 10-31kg

No charge

Electron
Proton Neutron
Protons and neutrons make up most of the mass of an atom. The weight of electrons (while important) is
almost zero in comparison.

In kg the masses are very small. So instead, a unit called atomic mass units (amu) is used.

1 proton = 1 amu
1 neutron = 1 amu
1 electron = 0 amu
 Nuclear symbol
• Often, elements are presented (in
textbooks or equations) using nuclear
symbols.
• Mass number or the average atomic
mass, is the total mass of the atom in
amu. It is the mass of the protons and
neutrons.
• Atomic number is the number of protons
 
and atom has.
Ion
• Charged atom
• Meaning unequal number of
protons to electrons. Lithium ion Fluorine ion

• Cation = Positive ion

• Anion = Negative ion
• Ions of opposite charge have
the ability to bond (ionic
bond).

Z is the atomic number, A is the mass number

Notation for ions

Na1+ or Na+

Al3+
 Isotopes + +
Neutron

+
Electrons

• Atoms with the same Nucleus

+
+
+ Nucleus

number of protons and

Proton

Proton

electrons, buy varied in the Nucleus

+
+
Neutron
+
number of neutrons. Carbon-12
+ Electrons
Neutrons 6 +
Protons 6
Electrons 6 +

Carbon-14
Neutrons 8
Protons 6 Nucleus
Electrons 6

Z is the atomic number, A is the mass number

Notation for isotopes
name of the element and the mass number:
sodium-23, sodium-24
 mass number and atomic number in symbol form

mass number
23
Na
11
atomic number