Atomic Structure

Chapter 4

Early Theories
Ideas of the Philosophers
1. Democritus ( 460-370 B.C.) : matter is composed of tiny
particles called atoms
Atom: smallest particle of an element that retains its identity in a
chemical reaction
Believed atoms were indivisible and indestructible
Lacked experimental support and couldnt explain chemical behavior

2. Aristotle ( 384 322 B.C.) : disagreed with the idea of atoms.

Thought everything was made from Earth, Wind, Water & Fire
3. John Dalton (1766-1844) : marks the beginning of modern
atomic theory. Based statements on scientific research

Daltons Atomic Theory

Using experimental methods, Dalton transformed Democrituss ideas on
atoms into a scientific theory
1. All matter is composed of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms
2. Atoms of the same element are identical in size, mass, and chemical
properties
3. Atoms of different elements are different
4. Atoms of different elements can physically mix or chemically combine
5. Chemical reactions occur when atoms are separated, joined, or
rearranged.

Subatomic Particles
The building blocks of atoms
1. Protons: positively charged subatomic particles
- Discovered by Eugen Goldstein in 1886
- Found in the nucleus
- Relative electrical charge: 1+
- Relative mass: 1
- Symbol: p+

Subatomic Particles
2. Electron: negatively charged subatomic particles
- Discovered by J.J. Thomson in 1897
- He used a Cathode Ray tube

- Mass 1/1840th of a proton

- Relative electrical charge: 1- Relative mass: 0
(negligible compared
to the proton)
- Symbol: e- Robert Millikan (1916) calculated the mass and charge of an
electron

Subatomic Particles
3. Neutrons: neutral (uncharged) subatomic particles
- Discovered by James Chadwick in 1932
- Found in the nucleus
- Relative electrical charge: zero
- Relative mass: 1
- Symbol: n0

Developmental Steps of Atomic Theory

1. Daltons Model
- Indivisible Model
- The same throughout

2. Thomsons Model
- Plum Pudding Model
- Diffuse, evenly positive charge
- Negative electrons in fixed positions throughout

3. Rutherfords Model
- Nuclear atom
- Positive charge concentrated in a central core called a nucleus
- Negative electrons in motion in the empty space around the nucleus

Rutherfords Gold Foil Experiment

An experiment designed to verify Thomsons model
The results led to the definition of the nucleus
Observations of Experiments

Conclusions about Nucleus

Most of the alpha () particles went - Large spaces between nuclei

straight through
- Electrons are rapidly moving in the
empty space between nuclei
Some of the () particles deflected
as they passed through

Very small positively charged

nucleus

A few of the particles deflected

Nucleus is very dense and contains
back at large angles, never making it all of the positive charge
through

Nucleus
Nucleus: Central core of the atom
(1/100,000th diameter)
Composed of the p+ and n0
Contains all of the atoms positive charge
Contains 99.97% of the atomic mass

Distinguishing Among Atoms

Atomic Number: Number of protons in the nucleus

Henry Moseley discovered that each element contains a unique

positive charge
Determines the place for each element on the periodic table
Whole # on the periodic table
(# of protons = # of electrons when uncharged)

Mass Number: total number of protons & neutrons found in

the nucleus
Remember: all the mass of the atom is found in the nucleus
# n0 = mass # - atomic #

Isotopes
Isotopes: Atoms that have the
same number of protons but
different number of neutrons
Because they have a different number of neutrons, that
also have a different mass number
Each isotope has essentially the same chemical
properties because the protons and electrons are the
same

More changes to Daltons Atomic theory

Atoms of the same element (same # p+) can be different due to

the different number of neutrons (Isotopes)

Expressing Mass Number

Two types of shorthand notation for mass #

Mass Number
Atomic #

Chemical Symbol

Au

197
79

Chemical Symbol

Au 197
Gold - 197

Mass Number

Atomic Mass
Atomic Mass: Mass of the average atom based on the
relative abundance of each the isotopes
This is the mass number you find on the periodic table

Isotope Atomic # Mass #

C-14
6
14
206
82
206
82 Pb
107
47 Ag

#p+
6

# e6

# n0
8

Atomic Mass Unit

Because the masses of atoms and subatomic
particles are so small, a convenient unit is used:

Atomic mass unit (amu): a unit of mass equal to onetwelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom
used to express the mass of atomic and subatomic
particles.
1 amu = 1.6605 x 10-24 g

1 proton or 1 neutron relative mass: 1 amu

Atomic Mass
A weighted average mass reflects both the mass and
the relative abundance of the isotopes as they occur
in nature
To calculate the atomic mass of an element, multiply
the mass of each isotope by its natural abundance,
expressed as a decimal, and then add the products.
(mass isotope 1 x abundance isotope 1) + (mass isotope 2 x abundance isotope 2)

For example, carbon has two stable isotopes:

Carbon-12, which has a natural abundance
of 98.89%, and
Carbon-13, which has a natural abundance
of 1.11%.