Atomic

Structure
Quick Review:
We have talked about the 3 states of matter; their transformations and characteristics.

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We discussed the nature of matter.
Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. All matter is made of up particles which
can exist in the 3 states mentioned above.
But what evidence do we have that matter exists? The following terms give us evidence of
matter:
1. Crystals have regular shape For example look at a single grain of common salt. All
crystals of the same substance have straight edges, flat surfaces and the same shape.
This suggests that particles of crystals are arranged in regular repeated rows.

3. Dilution Think of when you mix sweet and dandy mauby syrup with water; you can
add a lot of water and the solution will still retain a colour. A better example would be
to that given in no. 2 above when a small crystal of potassium manganate (VII) is
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dissolved in a beaker of water. The fact that the solution retains a colour although
diluted a 1000x times suggests that the crystal is made up of many tiny particles.
4. Brownian Motion Named after the botanist Robert Brown in 1827, as he observed
pollen dust in water. This term refers to the haphazard movement of small particles as
they are being collided by even smaller particles such as air or water molecules.














We started to distinguish between compounds and mixtures.

A compound is a substance composed of two or more different types of elements

bonded together chemically in fixed proportions and in such a way that their properties
are changed. They are not easily separated and new chemical properties have been
formed.

A mixture consists of two or more substances (which can be elements or compounds
etc.) which are brought in close contact with each other in varying proportions but they

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dont react. Mixtures are easily separated by physical means (i.e. a fruit\salad mixture).
There is no change in chemical properties.

Look up separation techniques.

Atomic Structure and Configurations

An element is a pure tangible substance that cannot be split into anything simpler by any
chemical process. We split elements into 2 categories: metal and non-metal.
However they are made up of molecules and molecules can be split into individual atoms.
A molecule is the smallest uncharged part of an element or compound which can exist on its
own. E.g. Oxygen gas can only exist as the molecule O2 and Water is the molecule H2O.
An atom is the smallest characteristic part of an element that can take part in chemical
reactions.

Ma[er
Elements
Molecules/Compounds

Atoms

So in order of size:

Sub-atomic Particles:-
Atoms consist of three types of

Protons

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particles:-

Neutrons

Electrons

Table showing the relative charges and masses of the 3 sub-atomic particles along with their
founders and the time period in which they were discovered:-
Person who made the
discovery

Particle
developed

Relative mass of
particle

Relative charge
of particle

1897

J.J Thomson

Electron

1/1840

-1

1919

E. Rutherford

Proton

+1

1932

J. Chadwick

Neutron

Date

The structure of a typical atom:-

Atoms usually have equal numbers of protons
and electrons inside of them. The charges on
the protons (+1) and electrons (-1) are equal,
but opposite, so they cancel out and the atom
is said to be electrically neutral or stable.


Nuclear symbols:-

Atomic number: - this is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom; the symbol is: Z.

Neutron number: - the number of neutrons in the atom is symbolised by N.
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Mass number: - the total number of protons and neutrons within the nucleus of an atom; the
symbol is: A.
Hence the equation: -
A = Z + N
The atomic number and mass number of one atom of an element can be included with the
symbol of the element:




Example: -
23
Na represents 1 atom of the element sodium:
11
Mass number = 23
Atomic number = 11
No# of protons = 11
No# of electrons = 11
No# of neutrons = (23 11) = 12

Kevin Small
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Kevin Small
www.cxctutor.org or www.cxctutor.com