Atomic Structure

Lesson Outline

Structure and particles

Atomic and mass numbers
Isotopes
Atomic orbitals
Arrangement of electrons
Electron configuration
Formation of ions
Isoelectronic species

What is an atom?
An atom is the smallest indivisible particle of an
element that can take part in a chemical reaction.
Each element is made up of its own type of
atoms.
Atoms of the same element have the same size
and mass. The atoms of different elements are of
different size and mass.

Subatomic particles
Atoms are made up of 3 subatomic particles:
Proton
Neutron
Electron
Protons and neutrons
(nucleons) reside in the
nucleus.
Electrons are found around the
nucleus in electron shells.

Subatomic particles
Particle

Symbol

Relative
Charge

Proton

1+
(positive)

1.67 X 10-

0
(neutral)

1.67 X 10-

1(negative
)

9.11 X 10-

Neutron
Electron

n
e

Mass / kg Relative
Mass
1

27

27

31

Atomic Number and Mass Number

A nuclide is used to describe an atomic species of
which the atomic and mass numbers are specified.

Mass number / Nucleon number

Symbol of the element
Atomic number / Proton number

Atomic number
Atomic number is also known as the
proton number.
Tells us the number of protons an atom of
an element contains.
Unique for every element, thus it gives an
atom its identity.
For an atom,
Number of protons = number of electrons
As such, atoms are electrically neutral.

Mass number
Mass number is also known as the nucleon
number.
Tells us the number of protons and
neutrons an atom of an element contains.
Number of neutrons = Mass number
Proton number
The mass of the entire atom is largely
attributed to the presence of protons and
neutrons in the nucleus, as electrons have
a negligible mass.

Go
Figure!
The element is aluminium.

27

Al

13

Mass number = 27;

atomic number = 13
Number of protons = 13
Number of electrons = 13
Number of neutrons = 27 13
= 14

Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element
with different number of neutrons.

Hydrogen,
H

Deuterium,
D

Tritium, T

Isotopes of the same element will have the

same chemical properties, but slightly
different physical properties.

Isotopes

Isotope
Common name
Mass number
Atomic number
Number
of
neutrons

Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen

-1
-2
-3
Hydrogen Deuterium
Tritium
1
2
3
1
1
1
0

Examples of Isotopes with Relative Abundance

Carbon
Carbon-12 (98.9%)
Carbon-13 (1.1%)
Carbon-14 (trace)

Oxygen
Oxygen-16 (99.76%)
Oxygen-17 (0.04%)
Oxygen-18 (0.2%)

Chlorine
Chlorine-35 (75.0%)
Chlorine-37 (25.0%)

Silicon
Silicon-28 (92.2%)
Silicon-29 (4.7%)
Silicon-30 (3.1%)

Not all elements will have isotopes, e.g. fluorine,

sodium, beryllium.
The relative abundance of naturally occurring isotopes
of each element will add up to 100%.
Ar has no unit. Record Ar to 1 decimal place for values

Calculation of Relative Atomic Mass

35.5

Cl

17

Isotope

Relative
abundance

Chlorine-35
Chlorine-37

75%
25%

Chlorine exists naturally as 2 isotopes, 35Cl

and 37Cl.
Relative atomic mass (Ar) takes into
consideration the mass of the naturally
occurring isotopes and their relative
abundance.
Relative atomic mass of chlorine
=

Periodic Table
The elements in the Periodic Table are
arranged in order of atomic/proton number.
The vertical columns of elements in the
Periodic Table are called groups of elements.
Roman numerals must be used to write
group numbers, e.g. Group I, Group IV,
Group VII.

Electrons in the same group have the same

number of outer shell electrons (valence
electrons).
The group number corresponds to the
valence electrons.

Periodic Table
Group I

Proton Electronic
numb configuration
er

Number of
valence
electrons

Lithium

Sodium

11

Potassiu 19
m

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

4s1

Periodic Table
The horizontal rows of the elements in
the Periodic Table are called periods of
elements.
All elements in the same period have
the same number of occupied electron
shells.
The period number is given by the
Period 2
Li
Be
B
C
N
O
number of occupied electron shells.

Ne

Proton number

10

Electronic
configuration

Electronic Configuration of Noble Gases

The noble gases in Group 0 (helium,
neon, Argon, krypton, xenon and radon)
tend to be unreactive.
As the electron arrangements of noble
gases are relatively stable, they are the
only elements that can exist naturally
as monatomic elements.
Atoms of noble gases (except helium)
have eight electrons in their outer
shells (stable octet configuration).

Electronic Configuration of Noble Gases

He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn -

duplet configuration
2
2.8
2.8.8
octet configuration
2.8.18.8
2.8.18.18.8
2.8.18.32.18.8

In general, when atoms react to form

compounds, they tend to combine in such
a way that they each have eight electrons
in their outer shell, giving them the same
electronic configuration as a noble gas.
This is called octet rule.

Ions
Atoms
Atoms have equal number
of protons and electrons.
They are electrically
neutral.
Electron
Nucleus
Proton
Neutron

Electron
shell

Ions
Think: Which subatomic
particle is most
vulnerable?
Electrons are very small
and fast moving. They
are found around in
regions around the
nucleus. Electrons can
be easily lost or gained.
On the other hand,
protons and neutrons
are found within the
nucleus of the atom.

Ions
An ion is formed when an atom or a
group of atoms loses or gains
electron(s), such that it acquires an
electrical charge.
Atoms lose or gain electrons to obtain
the duplet or octet configuration in
order to achieve greater stability.
The process of atoms losing or gaining
electrons form the basis for chemical
reactions.

Isoelectronic species
Any atom or ions with the same electronic
configuration are said to be isoelectronic.
Examples:
Species

Number of
electrons

Electronic
configuration

FNe
Mg2+
S2Ar
K+
Sc3+

10

1s2 2s2 2p6

18

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6