Atomic Structure
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Structure of the Atom

The atom consists of a tiny, massive central nucleus surrounded by electrons.

The Nucleus

·        Contains the protons and neutrons.

·        It is positively charged (protons are positively charged).

·        It is the heavy part of the atom (protons and neutrons have much greater mass than electrons).

·        It is small in comparison to the rest of the atom.

The electron shells

·        Electrons are arranged in energy levels around the nucleus.

·        The electrons are fast moving.

·        Each energy level can only contain a set number of electrons. Once an energy level is full any extra electrons go into the next level.

Atoms of different elements contain different numbers of protons. Atoms have no overall charge. Therefore

Atomic Number and Mass Number

The element will sometimes be represented by the following:

Where: A = the mass number.

Z = the atomic number.

X = the element symbol.

e.g.

This tells us:

The atomic number of sodium = 11

The mass number of sodium = 23

We can now work out the number of protons, neutrons and electrons:

Number of protons = atomic number = 11

Number of neutrons = mass number – number of protons = 12

Number of electrons = number of protons = 11

Isotopes

·        Isotopes have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.

·        Isotopes have similar chemical properties because chemical reactivity depends upon the number of electrons but slightly different physical properties (e.g. density).

Calculating the Relative Atomic Mass

Example: Chlorine

Chlorine exists in two forms. These two forms of chlorine differ only in the number of neutrons in the nucleus.

³⁵Cl = 75% ³⁷Cl = 25%

The Arrangement of Electrons around the Nucleus

·        Electrons are arranged in energy levels (or shells) surrounding the nucleus.

·        They do not all have the same energy.

·        Electrons with low energy are in energy levels close to the nucleus and ones with high energy are in energy levels further away from the nucleus.

·        There are a limited number of electrons that can be fitted into each energy level.

·        This arrangement of electrons surrounding the nucleus is called the electron configuration.

The first energy level can hold a maximum of 2 electrons.

The second energy level can hold a maximum of 8 electrons.

The third energy level holds 8 electrons (although can hold up to 18)

Once one energy level is full, the next is filled.

e.g. contains 11 protons, 11 electrons and 12 neutrons.

The electron configuration is 2,8,1

Representing electron configuration.

e.g.

Uses of electron configuration

The electron configuration can tell us:

a)     Which group of the periodic table the element is in. (The number of electrons in the highest or outer energy level tells us this.)

b)    Which period of the periodic table the element is in. (The number of energy levels tells us this.)

All elements in the same group of the periodic table have the same number of electrons in the outer energy level.

The Noble Gas Configuration

The Noble gases (group VIII) are the most unreactive elements in the periodic table. They appear at the end of each period. They are unreactive because they have a full energy level (shell) of electrons. Other elements in the periodic table react with other elements to gain the “more stable” noble gas configuration.

Formation of Ions

·        Ions are atoms which have gained or lost electrons to obtain a full outer shell. Ions are charged, because electrons have negative charge.

·        Atoms that lose electrons form positive ions because there are now more protons than electrons. Positive ions are called cations.

·        Atoms that gain electrons form negative ions because there are now more electrons than protons. Negative ions are called anions.

E.g. Sodium

Electron configuration is 2,8,1

To gain a full outer shell the atom can either:

a)     lose one electron

b)    gain seven electrons

It is easier to lose one electron than to gain seven, so sodium loses an electron to form a cation (positive) with a charge of +1.

The lost electron will be given to another element (see notes on Ionic Bonding).

So now The number of protons = 11

The number of neutrons = 12

The number of electrons = 10

E.g. Chlorine

The electron configuration is 2,8,7

To gain a full outer shell the chlorine atom can either:

a)     lose seven electrons

b)    gain one electron

It is preferable to gain one electron than to lose seven, so chlorine gains an electron to form an anion (negative) with a charge of –1.

The electron is gained from another element.

So now The number of protons = 17

The number of neutrons = 18

The number of electrons = 18

Electron Configuration and the Periodic Table

The chemical properties of an element depend on the number of electrons in the highest energy level (shell).

·        Metals lose electrons to form cations.

·        Non-metals gain electrons to form anions.

An easy way to work out the charge on an ion:

Other Notes in this Category

1. Atomic Structure
2. Bonding and Elements
3. Fractional Distillation
4. Periodic Table Practice Questions
5. Properties of covalent, ionic, giant and molecular compounds

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