Fundamental

Properties of
Atom
Atomic Number and Atomic Mass
Introduction to Atoms
Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all
matter and consist of a nucleus (center) containing
protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in
electron shells.
 Important Figures:
Isotopes: Periodic Table:
• Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of  The periodic table organizes elements by
increasing atomic number.
neutrons, leading to isotopes.
 Elements in the same column (group) share
• Isotopes have the same atomic number but different similar chemical properties due to their electron
atomic masses. configurations.
• For example, carbon-12 (12C) and carbon-14 (14C) are
isotopes of carbon.

Periodic Trends:
 Atomic number affects periodic trends like atomic size, ionization energy, and
electronegativity.
 As you move across a period (from left to right), atomic number and protons increase,
impacting these trends.
  Atomic Number is defined as the number of protons
found in the nucleus of an atom. It's represented by the
symbol "Z".
Atomic Number  This property is crucial for identifying elements
because each element on the periodic table has a
unique atomic number. For example, Hydrogen has an
atomic number of 1, and Oxygen has an atomic number
of 8. Knowing the atomic number allows scientists to
distinguish one element from another.
  To find the Atomic Number on the Periodic
Table, you simply look at the whole numbers
listed above each element's symbol. These
How to Find whole numbers are the atomic numbers.
Atomic Number
 For instance, Hydrogen (H), the first element,
has an atomic number of 1, while Oxygen (O),
the eighth element, has an atomic number of 8
  Atomic Mass refers to the average mass of
the atoms in a naturally occurring sample
of an element. It's represented by the
symbol "A".

Atomic Mass
 In the context of chemistry, Atomic Mass
is essential because it helps chemists
understand how much of a substance they
have and how it will behave in chemical
reactions.
 Atomic Mass Unit (AMU)
 Atomic Mass Unit (AMU) is a unit used to measure the mass of atoms. It's defined
relative to the mass of a carbon-12 atom, where 1 AMU is equal to 1/12th the mass of
a carbon-12 atom.

 This relationship between AMU and Atomic Mass (A) allows scientists to express
atomic masses in a convenient unit for atomic-scale calculations.
Determining Atomic Mass
• Determining Atomic Mass involves calculating a
weighted average of the masses of an element's naturally
occurring isotopes, where the weights are the relative
abundances of each isotope.
• For example, Chlorine has two common isotopes,
Chlorine-35 and Chlorine-37, with different masses and
abundances. To find the atomic mass of Chlorine, you'd
use a weighted average calculation.
Measuring Atomic Mass:
 Atomic Mass Unit (AMU): The unit for
measuring atom mass.
 Definition: 1/12th the mass of a carbon-
12 atom, approximately 1.66 x 10^-24
grams.
Calculating Atomic Mass:
 To calculate atomic mass, multiply the mass of each
isotope by its relative abundance, then sum the
results.
 Atomic mass = (Isotope1 mass × Abundance1) +
(Isotope2 mass × Abundance2) + ...

 Components: Atomic mass combines

nucleus and electron masses.

 Note: AMU isn't exactly the same as

proton or neutron mass.
 Atomic Number vs. Atomic Mass

- Atomic Number represents the count of protons in an

atom, providing the element's identity.

- Atomic Mass represents the average mass of an atom in a

sample. It's influenced by the number of protons, neutrons,
and electrons in an atom.

- These two properties serve different roles in element

identification: Atomic Number identifies the element itself,
while Atomic Mass helps quantify and predict the behavior
of a substance in chemical reactions.
Simplifi ed Ver. of Atomic Mass vs.
Mass Number:

• Atomic mass is a weighted average

of all the naturally occurring
isotopes of an element.
• Mass number (A) is the sum of
protons and neutrons in a specifi c
isotope.
Real-world Applications
 Atomic Number and Atomic Mass have
numerous real-world applications. For
instance:
 In chemical reactions, Atomic Number
helps predict how elements will
combine and form compounds.
 In nuclear medicine, understanding
isotopes with specific Atomic Numbers
is crucial for diagnostics and
treatments.
 In isotopic dating, scientists use the
ratios of isotopes with different
Atomic Masses to determine the age of
geological and archaeological samples.
Summarization of Key Points:

Atomic number and atomic mass are fundamental

properties of atoms.

They play a key role in understanding the

structure, behavior, and classification of elements.
Conclusion
Remember, atomic number defines the element, while atomic mass
provides insights into its isotopic composition. These concepts are
essential for chemistry and our understanding of the natural world.