Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

Key Ideas

➢ For an atom :

Number of protons = number of electrons = Z ( Atomic

number )

Number of protons + number of neutrons = A ( Nucleon

number )

Number of neutrons = A – Z

➢ For an element of symbol X , it is written in the following form

A
X
Z

e.g. for the Calcium atom Ca

40
Ca
20

For the Sodium atom Na

23
Na
11

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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

➢ Electrons are arranged around the nucleus in energy levels or

shells. The first shell is nearest to the nucleus and contains
electrons with the lowest energy.

➢ All elements up to Calcium , Z= 20 , the shells fill in order 1,

2 , 3, 4. The first shell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons ; the
second and third shells can each hold eight electrons

➢ Beyond Z=20 the order of filling and the number of electrons

in a shell follows a more complicated pattern

Key definitions

Atom : The unit particle of an element

Proton number ( Atomic Number ) “ Z” : The number of

protons in one atom of the
element

Nucleon number “A”: The number of nucleons, that is, the

number of protons and neutrons in one
atom of the element

Period : A horizontal row in the periodic table. It corresponds

to a shell or energy level filling with electrons. The
number of occupied shells is the same across the
period but the number of valency electrons in the outer
shell increases

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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

Group : A vertical column in the periodic table. The number

of occupied shells increases down the group but the
number of valency electrons remains the same

Isotopes : Different atoms of the same element, which have

the same proton number, but different nucleon
numbers

Noble gas : A gaseous element in Group 0, with stable

electronic structure; its electron shells are full so it is
unreactive

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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

Figure 3-1
Exercise 3-1 :
Look at the Periodic table in figure 3-1 or at the back of your
chemistry book and answer the following

1- Calculate the number of protons, electrons and neutrons in

one atom of the following elements :

7
Li ------------ protons --------------- electrons --------------
neutrons
3

65
Zn ------------ protons ----------------- electrons ---------------
neutrons

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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

30

108
Ag ---------- protons ----------------- electrons ----------------
neutrons
47

2- What is the total number of subatomic particles in one atom

of Scandium Sc ?
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3- What is the number of charged subatomic particles in one

atom of fluorine F ?
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4- Complete the Complete the electronic structure of the

following. There is only ONE number missing from each
structure

Fe 2, 8 ,--------- , 2
As 2, 8 , 18 , ----------

Sr 2, 8, --------- , 8 , 2

Pd 2, 8 , 18 , -------- , 2

5- How many electrons are there in the outer electron shell of

each of the following ?

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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

Cs Ra Ge At

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6- Two of the isotopes of bromine are

79 81
Br Br
35 35

a) What is the only difference between these two atoms ?

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b) Which three features are the same in both of these

atoms ?

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1- Write the electronic structure of the following atoms. You

should use the periodic table

Li
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------

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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

B
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------

N
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-------

Ne
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---------

Mg
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---------

Si
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-----------

S
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------------

Cl
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-----------

Ar
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Chemistry Unit 2 Sheet 3 PreIGCSE

Ca
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