I.

Atomic Structure
PREPARED BY GIL FELICISIMO S. CABRERA
The Atomic Theory
1. Elements are composed of extremely small particles called atoms.
2. All atoms of a given element are identical, having the same size,
mass, and chemical properties. The atoms of one element are
different from the atoms of all other elements.
3. Compounds are composed of atoms of more than one element. In
any compound, the ratio of the numbers of atoms of any two of the
elements present is either an integer or a simple fraction.
4. A chemical reaction involves only the separation, combination, or
rearrangement of atoms; it does not result in their creation or
destruction.
The Atomic Theory
Laws of Matter
Law of Conservation of Mass
By Antoine Lavoisier, 1774, states that the total mass of
substances present after a chemical reaction is the same as
the total mass of substances before the reaction.
Laws of Matter
Law of Constant Composition
By Joseph Proust,1799, states that all samples of a
compound have the same composition the same
proportions by mass of the constituent elements.
Laws of Matter
Law of Multiple Proportions
If two elements form more than a single compound, the
masses of one element combined with a fixed mass of the
second are in the ratio of small whole numbers.
Example: Oxides of Carbon
Structure of the Atom
•Electron
• Discovered by JJ Thomson. Negatively charged particles. Mass
of an electron = 9.10x10-28g.
Structure of the Atom
•Proton
• Discovered by Ernest Rutherford. Positively charged particles.
Mass of a proton = 1.67262x10-24g
•Neutron
• Discovered by James Chadwick. Electrically neutral particles.
Mass of a proton = 1.67493x10-24g
Structure of the Atom

Where: A = Mass Number

Z = Atomic Number
Isotopes and Ions
Isotopes are atoms that have the same atomic number (Z) but different mass numbers (A) are
called isotopes.
When atoms lose or gain electrons, for example, in the course of a chemical reaction, the
species formed are called ions and carry net charges.

Where: A = Mass Number

Z = Atomic Number
Sample Problems
(1.) Through an appropriate symbol, indicate the number of protons,
neutrons, and electrons in (a) an atom of barium-135 and (b) the
double negatively charged ion of selenium-80
Solution:
(a) First get the “Z” of Barium Symbol =
From the periodic table, Z = 56
Therefore, no. of protons = 56
From the problem, Mass no. = 135
Mass number = no. of protons + no. of neutrons
no. of neutrons = Mass number - no. of protons
= 135 – 56 = 79
Since this is not an ion, no. of electrons = no.
protons = 56
Sample Problems
Solution:
(b) First get the “Z” of Selenium Symbol =
From the periodic table, Z = 34
Therefore, no. of protons = 34
From the problem, Mass no. = 80
Mass number = no. of protons + no. of neutrons
no. of neutrons = Mass number - no. of protons
= 80 – 34 = 46
Since this is an ion,
Charge = no. of protons – no. of electrons
no. of electrons = no. of protons – charge = 34 – (-2) = 36