Classifying Materials

Atomic Structure and Bonding

Contents
Atomic Structure
History of the atom Whats in an atom? How we represent atoms Energy shells

Bonding
Ionic bonding Covalent bonding Metallic bonding Properties conferred by different types of bonding

History of the atom

The idea of the atom was first thought up by Democritus an ancient Greek philosopher, 2000 years ago. However without any evidence people were rather sceptical.

Then, 200 years ago John Dalton did some experiments which showed that simple compounds always contained the same proportion of elements. He explained his evidence with the idea that elements were made up of tiny particles which could not be broken down any further.
Now we have a slightly different idea..

Whats in a Atom?
Atoms have a small central nucleus made up of protons and neutrons around which there are electrons.

Atomic Particle neutron

proton

Relative Mass 1
1

Relative Charge 0
+1

electron

negligible

-1

How scientists represent atoms

Energy Shells
Electrons occupy particular energy levels. These energy levels are called shells. The first shell can only contain 2 electrons, the second shell can contain 8 electrons and the third 18 electrons. You should be able to represent the electronic structure of the first twenty elements of the periodic table in the following forms: Electronic Structure Diagram

23

12

Mg

Mg

12 protons this requires 12 electrons, the shell must be filled from the lowest energy (inner) shells first

Electronic configuration:
2,8,2

Bonding
Compounds are substances in which atoms of two, or more, elements are not just mixed together but chemically combined. Chemical reactions between elements involve either the giving and taking, or sharing, of electrons in the highest occupied energy levels of atoms.

For your GCSE you need to know about three types of bonding ionic, covalent and metallic

Ionic bonding - key facts

Atoms lose or gain electrons to attain a complete outer shell of electrons. An ionic bond is formed when electrons are lost and gained by two or more atoms. When atoms lose electrons they become positive ions, when they gain electrons they become negative ions. Ionic bonds are formed between metals and non - metals.

How we draw ionic bonding

Covalent bonds - key facts

When non-metals react together both atoms need to gain electrons to obtain a full shell of electrons. The atoms are held together by shared pairs of electrons. The shared pair of electrons is a covalent bond.

How we draw covalent bonds

Methane is formed from one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Each carbon has four outer electrons and each hydrogen atom has 1 outer electron. Sharing gives both types of atom full outer shells.

Metallic Bonding

In metals, positive metal ions are held together by electron clouds. These electrons are free to move through the structure, this is why metals conduct electricity.

Properties conferred by different types of bonding

Covalent Bonding
If small molecules are formed these are likely to be gases, because the forces between the molecules are weak, for example hydrogen. If giant structures are formed, these substances will be hard with high melting points, for example diamond.

Ionic Bonding
Ionic compounds tend to form giant structures, these have high melting points and boiling points. They are hard but brittle, for example sodium chloride.

Metallic Bonding
Metals can be stretched into new shapes, because the atoms can slide over each other.

Summary
Atomic Structure
Atoms contain protons, electrons and neutrons Protons and neutrons exist in the nucleus. Electrons exist in a series of energy shells around the outside of the nucleus.

Bonding
There are three main types of bonding: Ionic bonding, between a metal and a non-metal, in which electrons are fully transferred. Covalent bonding, between non-metals and metals, in which electrons are shared. Metallic bonding, between metals, in which positive metal ions are held together by a negative electron cloud.