Atomic Structure

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Chem Lectures

5. Atomic Structure

Turning Back Time - The Theory of Atoms

About 2000 years ago, a Greek philosopher, Democritus (470 380 BC) asked Science a question: What would happen
if one were to keep halving matter, and to do this continuously for each new half until there could no longer be any
division taking place?

Democritus believed that there would be a point in time whereby no further division could take place, and he called the
resulting fundamental units atoms.

In the 1800s, John Dalton proposed a more modern theory of atoms. Today, several experiments have been carried out
to verify to a high degree of certainty the true structure of atoms, and with the inception of Quantum Physics, electrons are
no longer viewed as merely particles but instead, possess a particle-wave duality nature.

Learning Outcomes
1. State the relative charges and approximate masses of the proton, neutron and electron.
2. Define proton (atomic) number, nucleon (mass) number and isotope.
3. Describe, with the aid of diagrams, the structure of simple atoms in terms of protons, neutrons (in the nucleus) and
electrons (arranged in shells).
4. Interpret and use symbols such as C.
5. Deduce the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms and ions, given proton and nucleon numbers.
6. Define the term isotope.
7. Describe the formation of ions by electron loss of gain in order to obtain the electronic configuration of a noble gas.

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 Atomic Structure

1. What Makes Up an Atom?

An atom is the smallest component of an element _________________________________

_________________________________________

The sub-atomic particles that make up most atoms are the protons, neutrons and electrons.

Electron Nucleus

- Negatively charged. - Proton(s) and

- Found orbiting the neutron(s) are found
nucleus in shells. here.

Figure 1.1 Bohr model of an atom (not technically accurate but still widely
accepted)

Each sub-atomic particle has a relative mass and a relative charge as shown in the table below.

Sub-atomic particle Relative mass Actual mass/kg Relative charge

proton 1 1.673 10-27 +1
neutron 1 1.674 10-27 0
1
electron 9.109 10-31 1
1840

The core of the atom is called the nucleus.

Protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom.

The nucleus is in the centre of the atom, surrounded by electrons orbiting at fixed distance
from the nucleus.

The orbits of the electrons are also known as shells, and each shell is given a number, n.

Almost all the mass of an atom is contained in its nucleus as the mass of the electrons is
negligible compared to the mass of the protons and neutrons.

An atom has the same number of protons and electrons, making it electrically neutral, i.e.,
the positive (+) charge of the protons will 'cancel out' the negative (-) charge of the electrons.

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 Atomic Structure

Experimental Proclamation - Enrichment.

Rutherfords Gold Foil Scattering Experiment: "It was as if a shell fired at a piece of tissue paper bounced
back and hit me!"
3

2
1
2
-particle source

gold foil detector screen

Figure 1.2 Rutherfords gold-foil scattering experiment

Observation from Figure 1.2 Deduction

1 Most of the -particles were
observed to pass through the gold
foil undeflected.
2 Some -particles were deflected off
the main beam by a few degrees.
3 Some -particles were deflected
back by the gold foil in the direction
from which it came.
Atoms consist mostly of empty spaces.
-particles, being positively charged particles (bearing
the same electronic configuration as the helium
nuclei), are deflected by the positively charged nuclei
of the gold atoms.
The -particles collided with the massive nuclei and
were deflected back as a result of their comparatively
lighter mass than the gold nuclei.

Using the Bohr model previously described to explain these phenomena, it would look something like
Figure 1.3.
3

Figure 1.3 Atomic-scale representation of -particle scattering in Rutherfords gold

foil experiment

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 Atomic Structure

2. Behaviour of Sub-atomic Particles in an Electric Field

electron
+

neutron

proton

Figure 2.1 Deflection of sub-atomic particles in an electric field

Electrons are deflected towards the positively charged plate. They are much lighter compared to
protons and are deflected to a larger extent.

Protons are deflected towards the negatively charged plate.

Neutrons have no charge and remain unaffected by the electric field.

3. Atomic Structure

The nucleon number (or mass number) is the total number of ________________________
in the nucleus of an atom.
4
He
2
The proton number (or atomic number) is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Checkpoint 1

1. What is the name, mass number, atomic number and neutron number of the following elements:
a) C

b) H

c) Ca

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 Atomic Structure

4. What are Isotopes?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element (or same number of protons) with different
number of neutrons, e.g., 35Cl (chlorine-35) and 37Cl (chlorine-37).

Number of Mass number Number of

protons neutrons
chlorine-35 17 35 18
chlorine-37 17 37 20

Isotopes have different physical properties but similar chemical properties, e.g. 1H2 has a
boiling point of -252.88 oC while 2H2 has a boiling point of -249.49 oC.

Checkpoint 2

1. Hydrogen has three isotopes, with nucleon numbers 1, 2 and 3. Complete the table below with
details of the structure of the three isotopes.

Protium Deuterium Tritium

Symbol H H H
Number of
protons
Number of
electrons
Number of
neutrons
Reacts with 1H O 2H O 3H O
2 2 2
oxygen to form

2. The particles present in four atoms are shown in the table below.

Atom Nucleon Number of Number of Number of

number electrons neutrons protons
A 14 6 8 6
B 15 7 8 7
C 15 6 9 6
D 16 8 8 8

a) Which atom has the greatest mass?

b) Which two atoms are isotopes?

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 Atomic Structure

5. The Electronic Structure of an Atom

The arrangement of electrons in an atom in the different shells is known as the electronic
structure of an atom.

The following rules are followed during the filling of electrons into the shells:
(1) Each shell is numbered 1, 2, 3 and so on, going outwards from the nucleus.
(2) The shell nearer the nucleus is lower in energy level, and this is where electrons are first
filled, i.e., the shells are filled in order of increasing energy level.
(3) A maximum number of electrons can be accommodated in each shell. For the 1st 20
elements in the Periodic Table, we can use the formula 2n2 (where n is shell/principal
quantum number).

n = 1, first shell
closest to the nucleus
lowest energy level
always filled first
can hold a max of 2 electrons

n = 2, second shell
can hold a max of 8 electrons

n = 3, third shell
can hold a max of 18 electrons

Figure 5.1 Electron arrangement for elements with proton number 1 to 20

Checkpoint 3

Draw the electronic structures for the atoms of the following elements:
a) Hydrogen [This is a worked example.]

Step 1: Determine the mass number and proton number from the Periodic Table. We see that
hydrogen, H, has a mass number of 1 and a proton number of 1.

Step 2: Determine the number of protons, neutrons and electrons. We see that H has 1 proton, 0
neutron and 1 electron.

Step 3: Draw the nucleus first. Because we are representing protons with the symbol p, we will
need a key to be included later.
1p

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 Atomic Structure

Step 4: Because we only have 1 electron, we only need to fill the 1st shell. Recall that the 1st shell
can take up to 2 electrons. Draw the 1st shell and place the electron on the circle.

Key

1p p: proton

: electron

Step 5: Add in your key.

b) Helium

c) Lithium

d) Carbon

e) Magnesium

f) Nitrogen

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 Atomic Structure

g) Neon

h) Argon

5.2 Valence Shell Electrons

The shell which is furthest from the nucleus is called the outer shell or valence shell.

valence electron valence shell

Figure 5.2.1 Electronic structure of aluminium

The electrons in the valence shell are known as valence electrons. Valence electrons are
involved in the formation of chemical bonds between atoms during a chemical reaction, i.e., the
valence electrons determine the chemical properties of an element.

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 Atomic Structure

Generally, we only draw these valence electrons outer electronic structure, or we call them
Lewis diagrams, e.g.,

Cl C
chlorine atom carbon atom
Figure 5.2.2 Outer electronic structures for chlorine and carbon

5.3 Electronic Configuration

The electronic configuration refers to the numerical expression of the number of electrons in
each shell in an atom, e.g.,

Oxygen has a proton number of 8

oxygen has 8 electrons
2 electrons are located in the n = 1 shell
6 electrons are located in the n = 2 shell (valence shell)
electronic configuration for oxygen is 2.6

Magnesium has a proton number of 12

magnesium has 12 electrons
2 electrons are located in the n = 1 shell
8 electrons are located in the n = 2 shell
2 electrons are located in the n = 3 shell (valence shell)
electronic configuration for magnesium is 2.8.2

Checkpoint 4

Write the electronic configurations for all the elements in Checkpoint 3.

a) Hydrogen

b) Helium

c) Lithium

d) Carbon

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 Atomic Structure

e) Magnesium

f) Nitrogen

g) Neon

h) Argon

5.4 Electronic Structure and the Periodic Table

A vertical set of elements is called a

Group. Groups are numbered I, II,
III, IV to 0. This is Group I.

Atoms in the same Group have the

same number of valence electrons.

A horizontal set of
elements is called
a Period. Periods
are numbered 1, 2,
3, etc. This is
Period 1.

Atoms in the same

Period have the
same number of
electron shells.

Figure 5.4.1 Electronic structures of the first 20 elements in the Periodic

Table

6. Formation of Ions

Recall: An atom or group of atoms that has an electrical charge is called an ion.

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 Atomic Structure

Atoms lose or gain valence electrons to attain the stable electronic structure of a noble gas.
In doing so, they form ions, e.g., sodium chloride is made up of sodium cation and chloride
anion.

Atoms also share valence electrons to attain the stable electronic structure of a noble gas. In
doing so, they form molecules, e.g., water is made up of oxygen and two hydrogen atoms.

Noble gases have a valence shell with 8 electrons (with the exception of Helium with 2 valence
electrons). We call this the noble gas configuration or octet configuration (see Figure 5.4.1).

Noble gases are extremely unreactive because of this octet configuration as it makes the noble
gas atoms very stable.

Electronic
Noble gas
configuration
Helium, He 2
Neon, Ne 2.8
Argon, Ar 2.8.8
Krypton, Kr 2.8.18.8

6.1 Formation of Positive Ions - Cations

Metals tend to form cations by losing their valence electron(s) to attain the noble gas
configuration. It is more energetically favourable to lose 1 to 3 electrons, compared to gaining
5 to 7 electrons to attain the noble gas configuration.

The positive charge arises because there are now more protons than electrons.

Number of protons (+) in an atom of Na: 11

Number of electrons (-) in an atom of Na: 11
Overall charge of an atom of Na =

Number of protons (+) in an ion of Na+: 11 [Note: Protons are in the nucleus and not involved in
the chemical reaction]
Number of electrons (-) in an ion of Na+: 10
Overall charge =
Written as charge of

Group I metals lose one valence electron to form an ion with a charge of 1+, e.g., Na+.

Na: 2.8.1 Na+: 2.8

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 Atomic Structure

1 valence electron lost to attain the stable octet

configuration of the noble gas, neon.

Figure 6.1.1 Formation of the sodium cation, Na+

Group II metals lose two valence electrons to form an ion with a charge of 2+, e.g., Mg2+.

Mg: 2.8.2 Mg2+: 2.8

Group III metals lose three valence electrons to form an ion with a charge of 3+, e.g., Al3+.

Al: 2.8.3 Al3+: 2.8

In doing so, the atoms of Groups I to III metals can attain the stable noble gas configuration.

6.2 Formation of Negative Ions - Anions

Non-metals tend to form anions by gaining valence electrons to attain the noble gas
configuration. It is more energetically favourable to gain 1 to 3 electrons than to lose 5 to 7
electrons.

The negative charge arises because there are now more electrons than protons.

Number of protons (+) in an atom of Cl: 17

Number of electrons (-) in an atom of Cl: 17
Overall charge of an atom of Cl =

Number of protons (+) in an ion of Cl: 17 [Note: Protons are in the nucleus and not involved in
the chemical reaction]
Number of electrons (-) in an ion of Cl: 18
Overall charge =
Written as charge of

Group V non-metals gain three valence electron to form an ion with a charge of 3-, e.g., N3-.

N: 2.5 N3-: 2.8

Group VI non-metals gain two valence electrons to form an ion with a charge of 2-, e.g., O2-.

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 Atomic Structure

O: 2.6 O2-: 2.8

2 valence electrons gained to attain the stable

octet configuration of the noble gas, neon.

Figure 6.2.1 Formation of the oxide ion, O2-

Group VII non-metals gain one valence electron to form an ion with a charge of 1-, e.g., Cl.

Cl: 2.8.7 Cl: 2.8.8

1 valence electron gained to attain the stable

octet configuration of the noble gas, argon.

Figure 6.2.2 Formation of the chloride ion, Cl

In doing so, the atoms of Groups V to VII non-metals can attain the stable noble gas
configuration.

Checkpoint 5

1. Draw the full electronic structures for the atoms of the following elements, and write their
electronic configurations. Write the formula of the ion you would expect each element to form.

a) Be b) F

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 Atomic Structure

c) Mg d) S

2. Which of the following ions has the correct number of electrons, neutrons and protons shown?

Ion Electrons Neutrons Protons

A S 16 20 14

B Mg 10 13 12

C H 1 1 1

D F 8 10 9

3. Which one of the following does not have the same number of electrons as an atom of argon?
A S2- B Cl
C Ca 2+
D Al3+

4. Which particle has a different number of electron shells from the others?
A Al3+ B O2-
C Cl D Ne

5. Three elements, X, Y and Z, have consecutive increasing atomic numbers.

If element Y is a noble gas, what will be the symbol for the ions formed by elements X and Z in
their compounds?
A X and Z+ B X2- and Z2+
C X+ and Z D X2+ and Z2-

6. Which of the following is not true?

A Atoms of the same element may have different masses.
B Atoms of different elements may have the same number of neutrons.
C Atoms of different elements may lose or gain the same number of electrons.
D Atoms of elements from the same group of the Periodic Table have the same
number of protons.

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