CH 4 Atomic Structure
CH 4 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
#p+
6
# e6
# n0
8
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
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)