Lesson 1

The atom and mass spectrum

Outline
Introduction of atom

Atomic number and mass number

Measuring the mass of an atom

Using data from a mass spectrum

Classification of Matter
Atoms are the building blocks of matter.

Each element is made of the same kind of atom.

A compound is made of two or more different kinds of atoms.

Classification of Matter
Structure of atom
Atom
The atoms of an element all contain the same number of
protons

An atom is electrically neutral

Compare to the nuclear, the mass of electron is negligible
Atom
Element
What make an atom of one element different from an
atom of another element?
Atomic numbers
Mass # = p
+
+ n
0

Number of electrons = number of protons
Atomic numbers and weights
Nuclide p
+
n
0
e
-
Mass #
Oxygen - 10
- 33 42
- 31 15
8 8 18 18
Arsenic
75 33 75
Phosphorus
15 31 16
Atomic numbers--Practice
1.2 Atomic numbers and weights
Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different
masses.
Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons.
1.2 Atomic numbers and weights
1.2 Atomic numbers and weights
Atomic mass
Whats the mass of single
12
C and
13
C?
20.088* 10
-27
kg
1.2 Atomic numbers and weights
Isotope Symbol Composition of
the nucleus
% in nature
Carbon-12
12
C 6 protons
6 neutrons
98.89%
Carbon-13
13
C 6 protons
7 neutrons
1.11%
Carbon-14
14
C 6 protons
8 neutrons
<0.01%
Carbon = 12.011
1.2 Atomic numbers and weights
Average Atomic Mass
Average mass is calculated from the isotopes of an
element weighted by their relative abundance
1.2 Atomic numbers and weights
Relative atomic mass
The relative atomic mass (RAM, given the symbol Ar) is defined
as the average mass of its isotopes compared with one-twelfth
the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
1.3 Measuring the mass of atoms
Isotope Symbol Composition of
the nucleus
% in nature
Carbon-12
12
C 6 protons
6 neutrons
98.89%
Carbon-13
13
C 6 protons
7 neutrons
1.11%
Carbon-14
14
C 6 protons
8 neutrons
<0.01%
Mass spectrometer
1.3 Measuring the mass of atoms
Mass spectrometer
1.3 Measuring the mass of atoms
Finding the relative atomic mass
1.3 Measuring the mass of atoms
Finding the relative atomic mass
1.3 Measuring the mass of atoms
Finding the relative atomic mass
35
Cl-
37
Cl
37
Cl-
37
Cl
35
Cl-
35
Cl
1.3 Measuring the mass of atoms
Practice
Whats the average atomic mass of silicon?
A
r
(Si) = 25.76 + 1.45 + 0.9 = 28.11
1.4 Using data from a mass spectrometer
Mass spectrometry and chickens
corn-fed chicken
yellow dye food
Vs
Test the
12
C :
13
C ratio!
1.4 Using data from a mass spectrometer
Radioactive dating
Radioactive decay takes place when unstable
nucleus break apart to become more stable.

The time taken for half of the atoms in a
sample of a radioisotope to decay is constant
for that particular isotope. The time is called
the half-life, t
1/2
1.4 Using data from a mass spectrometer
Radioactive dating
The ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 falls over
time.
1.4 Using data from a mass spectrometer
Radioactive dating
2
1
2
1
t
x
y

Where
y is the percentage of original carbon-14
left in the sample
x is the time since organism died (years)
1.4 Using data from a mass spectrometer
Drug testing
Enhancing drugs would change the ratio of
testosterone to epitestosterone (T:E ratio)
1.4 Using data from a mass spectrometer
Mass spectrometers in space
Sending a mass spectrometer into space to
identify the different elements of a planet