SCIENCE 8 (QUARTER 3 – WEEK 5 and 6) Prepared by: JOEL D.

RABANAL, Subject Teacher

ATOMS
Learning Competency: Determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in a particular atom (S8MT-IIIe-f-10)

1. Early Theories of the Atom

Long time ago, people thought that Atoms were hard, solid, and round as marbles. Until Democritus (460-370
B.C.) thought and discussed about atoms. He proposed that all matter is composed of tiny indivisible particles called
“Atomos” which means indivisible or indestructible, but his ideas were not useful to explain chemical behaviors
because he did not perform any scientific experimentation. It was only after 2200 years when the relationship between
chemical changes in each atom were established. Greek Philosophers Plato (427-347 B.C.) and Aristotle (384- 322
B.C.) contradicted the idea of Democritus. They believed that there was no limit to the number of times that matter
can be subdivided; and that matter can be divided infinitely, with each piece getting smaller and smaller.
In 1803, John Dalton (1766-1844) concluded that the properties of matter could be explained in terms of
atoms. His Atomic Theory explained the existing laws and principles about the concept of chemical combination. He is
regarded as the “Father of Modern Atomic Theory” in recognition of his contribution, the Atomic Theory, to the
development of chemistry as a science. His Theory states the following:
• All matter is made of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms
• All the atoms of a particular element are alike. The atoms of one element are different from the atoms of
another element. The atoms of each element are unique.
• During chemical reactions, atoms are rearranged to form new compound; however, atoms are not created,
destroyed, nor changed into atoms of other elements.
• Atoms of different elements combine with one another in certain whole-number proportions to form
compounds, such as when one atom of oxygen is combined with two atoms of hydrogen to form water.

2. Subatomic Particles of the Atom

With the discovery of the three subatomic particles, the Electron, the Proton, and the Neutron, scientists were
more confident of their ideas on the structure of atoms. Though we know today that atoms are composed of many
other types of smaller particles, our study of chemistry will only require us to focus on these three subatomic particles.

Protons (p+)
Protons are the subatomic particles located in the nucleus of an atom. It has a charge of positive one (+1).
Different atoms have different numbers of protons. Protons give the chemical characteristics of an element unique to
other elements. The number of Protons (p+) is the Atomic Number (Z) of an element. In symbols,
p+ = Z
Aluminum, the basic material of many cooking utensils, has 13 protons. Its atomic number is therefore, 13.
Gold, the main element of gold jewelries has 79 protons. Its atomic number is therefore, 79.
Neutrons (n0)
Neutrons are the other subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They have no net electric charges
(0). The mass of the neutron is slightly larger than that of proton. Neutron and Proton are collectively called Nucleons.
Neutrons bind with protons with nuclear force. The number of neutrons determine the isotope of an element. To get
the number of neutrons, you need to subtract the mass number to protons. In symbols,
n0 = A – p+
Isotopes are elements that have the same Atomic Number but different Neutron Numbers. Take for example,
carbon-12 isotope. It has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. Carbon-14 isotope has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Isotopes of the
same atom have the same chemical characteristics. They produce the same product when reacting with another atom.
They only differ when the change happens in the nucleus called nuclear reaction.
Electrons (e-)
Electrons are the subatomic particles surrounding the nucleus of an atom. They are also light compared with
the protons and neutrons. An Electron has a charge of negative one (-1). The number of electrons in an atom is equal
to the number of protons. That is why an atom is electrically neutral. In symbols,
p+ = e-
Electrons are the subatomic particles responsible in chemical reaction. They occupy energy levels and are
arranged outside the nucleus. Each level can hold a maximum number of electrons. The level nearest the nucleus can
hold a maximum of 2 electrons. The second and third levels can hold a maximum of 8 electrons. The fourth level can
hold 18 electrons. The nearer the electron is to the nucleus, the lower is its energy level. The electrons farthest from
the center have the highest energy level.

3. Atomic Number (Z) and Mass Number (A)

The Atomic Number refers to the number of Protons in an Atom. It is represented by the symbol “Z”. Atomic
Number also determines the number of Electrons in an atom since Atoms are electrically neutral. Nitrogen for example

1
SCIENCE 8 (QUARTER 3 – WEEK 5 and 6) Prepared by: JOEL D. RABANAL, Subject Teacher
has an Atomic Number of 7 (ZNitrogen = 7), which mean Nitrogen contains 7 protons and 7 electrons. Always remember
that Atomic Number is equal to the number of protons and number of electrons. In symbols,
Z = p + = e-
The Mass Number of an atom is the total number of Protons and neutrons collectively known as Nucleons. It is
represented by the symbol “A”. the Electrons are not included in determining the mass number since it is very light
and negligible. Mathematically, the Mass Number is denoted by the following equation:
A= p+ + n0
For example, The atom of Nitrogen contains 7 protons, 7 electrons, and 7 neutrons. In total, the mass number
of this Nitrogen is 14.

4. Representing the elements with the Atomic Number and the Mass Number
Atomic number and Mass number of an Atom can be used to represent the symbol of its element. Such a
representation is shown below:

14 12
For example, Nitrogen can be represented by N . Carbon Atom can be represented by C and Oxygen
7 6
16
can be represented by O . Often, you can represent elements using the mass number only; for example, N-14, C-12,
8
1
H.

Activity 1
Directions: Determine the number of Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons of the following Atoms:
82 7 58
1. Br 2. Li 3. Fe
35 3 26
Activity 2:
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
1.What is the basic unit of matter and is considered as the smallest unit of an element?
A. Atom B. Electron C. Neutron D. Proton
For Numbers 2 and 3, refer to the following illustration/drawing below.

2. Which part is a negatively charged particle?

A. Part A B. Part B C. Part C D. Part A and Part B
3. Which part would determine the mass of an atom and is collectively known as nucleus?
A. A only B. A and B C. B and C D. C only
4. What are the three subatomic particles?
A. Proton, Neutron, and Hydrogen B. Nucleus, Proton, and Neutron
C. Proton, Neutron, Electron D. Proton, Ion, and Electron
5. Who developed the Atomic Theory of matter?
A. Antoine Lavoisier B. John Dalton C. Ernest Rutherford D. Joseph Proust
6. Which statement about subatomic particles is TRUE?
A. Protons, Electrons, and Neutrons all have the same mass
B. An electron has less mass than either a proton or neutron
C. Unlike protons or neutrons, electrons have no mass
D. Neutrons have no charge and no mass
7. The mass number of the atom can be obtained by _________.
A. Adding the protons and the electrons B. Adding the electrons and neutrons
C. Determining the number of protons only D. Adding the number of protons and neutrons
8. The atomic number of an element is equal to _________.
A. The number of protons in an atom
B. The number of neutrons in an atom
C. The number of protons plus the number of electrons in the atom
D. The number of protons plus the number of neutrons in the atom
9. To determine the number of neutrons in the nucleus of a neutral atom, you have to subtract ________.
A. Its mass number from its atomic number B. Its atomic number from its mass number
C. Its mass number from its electron number D. Its atomic number by its electron number
10. The identity of an element is determined by _____________.
A. The number of its protons B. The number of its neutrons
C. Its atomic mass D. The number of its electrons