Scribd
Upload
36 views

Atoms - The Buildstones - Class Notes

Class notes regarding atoms.

Uploaded by

michelleelcar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
36 views

Atoms - The Buildstones - Class Notes

Class notes regarding atoms.

Uploaded by

michelleelcar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Atoms: Class Notes

Instructor: Dr. Jane DoeCourse Code: CHEM101Date: October 22, 2024


Student Name: [Your Name]

Table of Contents
1 Introduction to Atoms
◦ Definition of Atoms
◦ Historical Development of Atomic Theory
2 Structure of an Atom
◦ Subatomic Particles
◦ The Nucleus and Electron Cloud
3 Atomic Number, Mass Number, and Isotopes
◦ Atomic Number (Z)
◦ Mass Number (A)
◦ Isotopes and Their Significance
4 Electron Configuration
◦ Energy Levels and Orbitals
◦ The Aufbau Principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle, and Hund’s Rule
5 The Periodic Table and Atomic Properties
◦ Atomic Radius
◦ Ionization Energy
◦ Electronegativity
6 Atomic Models
◦ Dalton’s Model
◦ Rutherford’s Model
◦ Bohr’s Model
◦ Quantum Mechanical Model

Introduction to Atoms
Atoms are the basic building blocks of all matter. They are the smallest
units of an element that retain the properties of that element. Atoms
combine in various ways to form molecules and are essential for
understanding chemistry and the nature of substances.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Atoms


1.1 Definition of Atoms

An atom is the smallest unit of matter that defines the chemical


elements. Every solid, liquid, gas, and plasma is composed of atoms,
which consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded
by electrons.
• Example: A hydrogen atom consists of one proton and one electron.
1.2 Historical Development of Atomic Theory

The concept of atoms dates back to ancient Greece, where philosophers


like Democritus proposed that matter is composed of indivisible units
called "atomos." However, the modern scientific theory of atoms was
developed in the 19th and 20th centuries:

• John Dalton (1803): Proposed the first modern atomic theory, suggesting
that elements are composed of identical atoms.
• J.J. Thomson (1897): Discovered the electron, leading to the "plum
pudding" model of the atom.
• Ernest Rutherford (1911): Discovered the nucleus and proposed the
nuclear model of the atom.
• Niels Bohr (1913): Developed a model of the atom with electrons orbiting
the nucleus in discrete energy levels.

Chapter 2: Structure of an Atom


2.1 Subatomic Particles

Atoms consist of three primary subatomic particles:

• Protons: Positively charged particles found in the nucleus. The number of


protons defines the element and is known as the atomic number.
• Neutrons: Neutral particles that also reside in the nucleus. Neutrons
contribute to the atomic mass but do not affect the charge of the atom.
• Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in electron
clouds or energy levels.
2.2 The Nucleus and Electron Cloud

• Nucleus: The central core of the atom, containing protons and neutrons.
It is dense and accounts for nearly all of the atom’s mass.
• Electron Cloud: Surrounding the nucleus is the electron cloud, where
electrons move in orbitals. The arrangement of electrons in different
energy levels defines an atom's chemical properties.

Chapter 3: Atomic Number, Mass Number,


and Isotopes
3.1 Atomic Number (Z)

The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons in the nucleus of an


atom. It defines the identity of an element. For example, hydrogen has an
atomic number of 1, while carbon has an atomic number of 6.

• Example: A carbon atom always has 6 protons, so its atomic number is 6.


3.2 Mass Number (A)

The mass number (A) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the
nucleus of an atom. This gives the approximate mass of an atom.

• Example: A carbon-12 atom has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, so its mass


number is 12.
3.3 Isotopes and Their Significance

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of
neutrons. This means that isotopes have the same atomic number but
different mass numbers.

• Example: Carbon has three isotopes: carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-


14. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are stable, while carbon-14 is radioactive
and used in radiocarbon dating.

Chapter 4: Electron Configuration


4.1 Energy Levels and Orbitals

Electrons in an atom occupy specific energy levels or shells around the


nucleus. These energy levels contain orbitals, which are regions where
electrons are most likely to be found.

• s, p, d, and f orbitals: Each energy level can have different types of


orbitals. For example, the first energy level has only an s orbital, while
higher levels can have p, d, or f orbitals.
4.2 The Aufbau Principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle, and
Hund’s Rule

• Aufbau Principle: Electrons fill orbitals starting from the lowest energy
level and move to higher levels.

• Pauli Exclusion Principle: No two electrons in an atom can have the


same set of four quantum numbers.

• Hund’s Rule: Electrons will occupy orbitals singly before pairing up, and
they will occupy the same spin direction as much as possible.

• Example: The electron configuration of carbon (atomic number 6) is 1s²


2s² 2p².

Chapter 5: The Periodic Table and Atomic


Properties
5.1 Atomic Radius
The atomic radius is the distance from the nucleus to the outermost
electron. Atomic radius decreases across a period and increases down a
group in the periodic table.

• Example: The atomic radius of hydrogen is smaller than that of lithium


because lithium is in a lower group.
5.2 Ionization Energy

Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an


electron from an atom. It increases across a period and decreases down a
group.

• Example: Helium has a higher ionization energy than sodium because its
electrons are held more tightly by the nucleus.
5.3 Electronegativity

Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a


chemical bond. It follows the same trend as ionization energy, increasing
across periods and decreasing down groups.

• Example: Fluorine is the most electronegative element, making it highly


reactive.

Chapter 6: Atomic Models


6.1 Dalton’s Model

John Dalton's model described atoms as indivisible spheres, and he


proposed that each element was composed of identical atoms.

6.2 Rutherford’s Model

Rutherford’s gold foil experiment revealed the existence of a small, dense


nucleus at the center of the atom, surrounded by empty space where
electrons move.

6.3 Bohr’s Model

Bohr proposed that electrons move in fixed orbits around the nucleus,
with energy levels corresponding to these orbits. Electrons could jump
between levels by absorbing or emitting energy.

• Example: The Bohr model of hydrogen shows one electron orbiting a


proton in fixed paths.
6.4 Quantum Mechanical Model

The current model of the atom is based on quantum mechanics. It


proposes that electrons occupy orbitals with defined probabilities rather
than fixed orbits. The position and momentum of an electron cannot be
simultaneously determined (Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle).

Summary of Key Points


• Atoms are the smallest units of matter, made up of protons, neutrons,
and electrons.
• The atomic number determines an element’s identity, while the mass
number accounts for protons and neutrons.
• Isotopes are atoms with the same atomic number but different mass
numbers due to varying numbers of neutrons.
• Electron configuration follows the Aufbau principle, Pauli exclusion
principle, and Hund’s rule, dictating how electrons are arranged in energy
levels.
• Properties like atomic radius, ionization energy, and
electronegativity vary predictably across the periodic table.
• Atomic models have evolved from Dalton’s indivisible atom to the
quantum mechanical model, which describes electrons as existing in
probabilistic orbitals.

Additional Resources
• Khan Academy - Introduction to Atoms
• Chemguide - Atomic Structure
• Crash Course Chemistry - Atomic Models

These class notes provide a structured and detailed overview of atoms,


their structure, properties, and the evolution of atomic models. They are
designed to help students grasp the fundamental concepts essential for
understanding more advanced chemistry topics.

4o

You might also like