C1:Atomic structure and the

Atomic structure discovery

NOBLE GASES UNREACTIVE

periodic table
Facts When the electron (1) was discovered, scientists

ALKALI METALS +1 ions

NO nega
thought that the atom was like a plum pudding. The
• An atom is the smallest part of an element that
plum pudding model suggested that the atom is a ball

N- tiv
can exist. of positive charge with negative electrons stuck in it.
• There are about 100 different elements.

ME e io
The alpha particle scattering experiment led to the
• Compounds are formed from elements by
ons
conclusion that the mass of an atom was mostly at the

TA ns
chemical reactions. ve i
positi
centre (in the nucleus) and that the nucleus had a

LS
• Compounds contain two or more elements
form
positive charge. This was called the nuclear model and
S

for
chemically combined. A L it replaced the plum pudding model.
MET

m
• Compounds can only be separated into elements Niels Bohr adapted the nuclear model saying that
by chemical reactions. TRANSITION METALS FORM electrons orbit the nucleus at specific distances. Bohr’s
• Mixtures can be separated by physical processes COLOURED COMPOUNDS, are shiny ideas were proven by results from experiments.
and malleable and good conductors. Halogens: Group 7 form -1 ions Later experiments told us the positive charge of any
such as filtration, crystallisation, simple distillation,
Element Symbol Example of nucleus could be divided into a number of smaller
fractional distillation and chromatography. 1st Periodic table listed elements by atomic
compound particles, each particle having the same amount of
• In order of time of discovery: Electron, Proton and weights.
positive charge. The name proton(2) was given to
Neutron. Sodium Na Sodium Chloride Early periodic tables were unfinished and not these particles.
• Atoms have NO OVERALL CHARGE as the positive NaCl organised well.
The experiments of James Chadwick gave us the
neutrons equal the negative electrons. Mendeleev’s table left gaps for elements not
evidence to show the existence of neutrons(3) in the
• yet discovered which were later found to be
Atoms have a radius of about 0.1 nm (1 x 10-10 m). Oxygen O2 Water nucleus. This was about 20 years after the nucleus
H2O correct predictions. Isotope discovery helped
Nuclei are about 1 x 10-14 m. became an accepted scientific idea.
to explain why elements weren’t always in
• The mass number of an atom is the total of its Carbon C Methane order of atomic weight.
protons and neutrons. To find the number of CH4 Electronic
neutrons in an atom take the proton number from GROUP 0
Nitrogen N Ammonia structure
the mass number. NH3 Unreactive. Full outer shell so
stable. Boiling point increases with of sodium
• Relative atomic mass takes into average of the Calcium Ca Calcium mass.
percentage abundance of isotopes. chloride Group 1
• Isotopes are atoms of the same element with a CaCl2
Highly reactive. One electron on
different number of neutrons. Silicon Si Silicon dioxide outer shell so unstable. React with
• Ions are atoms that have gained or lost electrons SiO2 O2, Cl2 and H2O
to become charged particles. (+/-) Reactivity increases with mass.
• The periodic table shows elements in order of Potassiu K Potassium Group 7 – form halides
atomic (proton) number and in columns(groups) of m iodide (e.g.chloride)
similar reactivity. KI Exist as pairs of atoms as 7 electrons
• Displacement is a more reactive metal taking the on outer shell. Become more dense
place of a less reactive one in a compound. and less reactive as mass increases.