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Physics 22 - The Nuclear Atom

The document discusses the structure of atoms. It describes how the nucleus is located at the center of the atom and contains protons and neutrons. The electrons orbit around the nucleus and are much smaller but take up more space. The number of protons determines the element and isotopes are variants with the same number of protons but different neutrons. The atomic number and mass number are used to identify isotopes and determine particle composition.

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Muhammad Amin Suhaimi
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54 views

Physics 22 - The Nuclear Atom

The document discusses the structure of atoms. It describes how the nucleus is located at the center of the atom and contains protons and neutrons. The electrons orbit around the nucleus and are much smaller but take up more space. The number of protons determines the element and isotopes are variants with the same number of protons but different neutrons. The atomic number and mass number are used to identify isotopes and determine particle composition.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Amin Suhaimi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Atoms

Atomic structure

The Nucleus
1) It’s in the middle of the atom
2) It contains protons and
neutrons
3) It has a positive charge
because of the protons.
4) Almost the whole mass of the
atom is concentrated in the
nucleus.
Atoms

Atomic structure

The Electrons
1) Move around the nucleus
2) They’re negatively charged.
3) They’re tiny, but they cover a lot of
space..
4) The volume their orbits occupy
determines how big the atom is.
5) They have virtually no mass.
6) They occupy shells around the
nucleus.
7) These shells explain the whole of
chemistry.
Atoms

Atomic structure

Summary

Particle Mass Charge

Proton 1 +1

Neutron 1 0

Electron 1/2000 -1
Atoms

Electron Shell Rules

1) Electrons always occupy SHELLS or


2nd
ENERGY LEVELS.
2) The LOWEST energy levels are ALWAYS 1st
FILLED FIRST.
3) Only a certain number of electrons are
allowed in each shell:
1st shell: 2
2nd shell: 8
3rd shell: 8

4) Atoms are much HAPPIER when they have


FULL electron shells.
5) In most atoms the OUTER SHELL is NOT
FULL and this makes the atom want to
REACT.

So, how do we know how many electrons, protons and neutrons there are?
Atoms
We just need to know
Atomic Number and Mass Number these two simple numbers

THE MASS NUMBER 23


- Total of Protons and Neutrons

THE ATOMIC NUMBER 11


Na
- Number of Protons (and electrons)
1) The atomic number tells you how many protons there are.
2) This also tells you how many electrons there are.
3) To get the number of neutrons – just subtract the atomic number from the
mass number.
4) The mass number is always the biggest number. It tells you the relative mass
of the atom.
5) The mass number is always roughly double the atomic number.
6) Which means there’s about the same number of protons as neutrons in any
nucleus.
Atoms

Atomic Number and Mass Number

Also known as the


NUCLEON NUMBER (A)

Also known as the


PROTON NUMBER (Z)

This is known as Each different


X
A
the NUCLIDE type of atom is
NOTATION Z called a NUCLIDE
Atoms Supplement

Atomic Number and Mass Number

Also known as the


NUCLEON NUMBER (A)

Also known as the


PROTON NUMBER (Z)

238 234 4

92 U Th
90 + 2 He
ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Isotopes have the same atomic


number, but different mass numbers
Isotopes
What’s the are atoms
difference with the
between same
number of
these two? protons but
a different
number of
neutrons.

In the nucleus, this In the nucleus, this


one has 6 protons one has 6 protons
and 6 neutrons. and 7 neutrons.
ISOTOPES 12
C
13
C
6 6

Different forms of the same element

Isotopes have the same atomic


number, but different mass numbers
Isotopes
What’s the are atoms
difference with the
between same
number of
these two? protons but
a different
number of
neutrons.

In the nucleus, this In the nucleus, this


one has 6 protons one has 6 protons
and 6 neutrons. and 7 neutrons.
ISOTOPES

Different forms of the same element

Most elements
have different
What are the isotopes but
features of there’s usually
isotopes? only one or two
stable ones.

The other isotopes tend to be radioactive, which


means that they decay into other elements and
give out radiation. This is where all radioactivity
comes from – unstable radioactive isotopes
undergoing nuclear decay and spitting out high
energy particles.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE Supplement

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE?

1911 Rutherford, Geiger and Marsden

+
Beam of alpha particles
Most alpha
Gold particles are
Alpha source foil undeflected

Some alpha
particles are
deflected slightly

Most alpha particles passed straight through +


the gold atoms, but a few bounced off at large
angles. Conclusion: atom is largely empty A few alpha
particles bounce
space, but positive charge and most mass off the nucleus
Alpha detector concentrated in a tiny nucleus at the centre.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE Supplement

Fission =
splitting
the atom

Stray
neutron Uranium
235
nucleus The emitted
neutrons go on to
split other nuclei,
and so on … the
result is a chain
reaction, releasing
A neutron strikes a
huge amounts of
nucleus of Uranium
energy
235 – this becomes
unstable, splits into
two lighter nuclei
and releases 2 or 3
neutrons.
ATOMIC STRUCTURE Supplement

Energy can be released by fusing (joining Fusion = joining


together) very light nuclei to make hydrogen nuclei
heavier ones. For example, two hydrogen
nuclei can be joined together to form
helium.

Fusion is very difficult to achieve – the


+ + gas must be much hotter than any
temperatures normally achieved on Earth
Hydrogen-2 Hydrogen-3 to overcome the natural repulsion of the
fast-moving nuclei.
Fusion
Fusion occurs
naturally on the Sun,
+ energy where four hydrogen
+ nuclei fuse to form
+ helium
Neutron
Helium

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