Atomic Structure (Physics)

Atoms and isotopes

 Structure of an atom, properties of an atom, e transition within an
atom
 Atomic Notation, Mass number, atomic number, isotopes, ions
 Development of the model of the atom.
Atoms and nuclear radiation
 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation
 Nuclear equations
 Half lives and random nature of decay
 Radioactive contamination
Learning Objectivess

 Describe the basic structure of the atom and the

properties of protons, neutrons and electrons
 Recall the radius of a typical atom
 Recall that most of the mass of an atom is located in
its positive nucleus (where its protons and neutrons
are located)
 Use atomic notation and know and understand the
terms mass number and atomic number
 Understand that a neutral atom becomes a charged
ion when it loses or gains electrons
 Explain the meaning of the term isotope
Structure of an Atom

 Nucleus is centre of an atom. It contains ……………… and …………………..

 Electron moves in …………. or energy level which surround the nucleus of an
atom.
Properties of Sub-atomic Particles

Particle Symbol Location Relative Relative

Charge Mass

Proton

Neutron

Electron
Properties of Sub-atomic Particles

Particle Symbol Location Relative Relative Mass

Charge

Proton Nucleus
p +1 1
Neutron n Nucleus 0 1
Electron e 1 or very
Energy Level -1
1800 small
Task
1- Name the three sub-atomic particles.

2- Nucleus contain ……………….. and ………………. .

3- The overall charge on the nucleus is …………………... .
4- …………………… move in energy levels which surround the nucleus.
5- State the relative charge of all three sub-atomic particles.

6- True/False: Electron’s mass is about 1800 times bigger than proton.

7- True/False: Mass of proton and neutron is about the same.
8- State the relative mass of three sub-atomic particles.
Task
1- Name the three sub-atomic particles. Proton, Neutron, Electron
Proton Neutron
2- Nucleus contain ……………….. and ………………. .
3- The overall charge on the nucleus is …………………...
Positive .
4- Electrons move in …………………….
Energy levels which surround the nucleus.
5- State the relative charge of all three sub-atomic particles.
Proton +1, Neutron 0, Electron -1
6- True/False: Electron’s mass is about 1800 times bigger than proton. F
7- True/False: Mass of proton and neutron is about the same. T
8- State the relative mass of three sub-atomic particles.
Proton 1,
Neutron 1,
Electron 1/1800
Properties of an Atom Energy levels can hold a
 Atoms are very small. Radius of an atom maximum of:
is………………….. ….. e- in the first shell
..... e- in the second shell
 The radius of a nucleus is less than ….. e- in the third shell(for
……………… of the radius of an atom. This now)
means most of an atom is…………………..

 Most of the mass of an atom is

concentrated in the ……………………..

 The electrons move in shells at specific

…………………….. from the nucleus
(different energy levels).
Properties of an Atom Energy levels can hold a
 Atoms are very small. Radius of an atom is maximum of:
1 x 10-10 m. 2 e- in the first shell
8 e- in the second shell
 The radius of a nucleus is less than of 8 e- in the third shell(for now)
the radius of an atom. This means most of
an atom is empty space.

 Most of the mass of an atom is

concentrated in the nucleus.

 The electrons move in shells at specific

distances from the nucleus (different
energy levels).
Can electrons move between different energy levels?
 The electron arrangements may change with
the ………………… or ………………… of
electromagnetic (EM) radiation.

 EM radiation absorbed by the electron

………………….. it to move to a ……………
energy level.

 The excited electron emit this energy as an

EM radiation by ………………… to its
…………….. energy level.

 The difference in the energy of

…………………….. is equal to the energy of
a ……………………. of EM radiation.
Can electrons move between different energy levels?
 The electron arrangements may change with
the absorption or emission of
electromagnetic (EM) radiation.

 EM radiation absorbed by the electron

excites it to move to a higher energy level.

 The excited electron emit this energy as an

EM radiation by falling back to its original
energy level.

 The difference in the energy of energy

levels is equal to the energy of a photon of
EM radiation.
Atomic Notation
1 4 7
Chemical Symbol: H He 3
Li
1 2
Chemical Name: Hydrogen Helium Lithium

p= p= p=
n= n= n=
e= e= e=
 Atomic Number is the number of
protons in an atom of an element.

 Mass Number is the sum of protons

and neutrons in an atom of an
element.

 All atoms of a particular element have

the same number of protons.

 Atoms have no overall electric charge.

This means atoms have same number

of protons and electrons.

Task
Atomic Protons Electrons Neutrons Atomic Mass
Notation Number Number

20 40

48 37
Task
Atomic Protons Electrons Neutrons Atomic Mass
Notation Number Number

12 12 12 12 24

4 4 5 4 9

20 20 20 20 40

19 19 20 19 39

37 37 48 37 85
 Isotopes are the atoms of the What element has
same element that have different only one proton?
numbers of neutrons.

Write atomic notation

p = p =
of all three isotopes?
n= n=
e= e=
p= p= p=
n= n= n=
e= e= e=
Task
1- State number of proton, electrons
and neutrons in both atoms.

2- Are they atoms of same element or

two different elements. Provide the
reason. p= p=
n= n=
e= e=
3- Identify the element using periodic
table.

4- Write the atomic notation for both

atoms.
Task
1- State number of proton, electrons
and neutrons in both atoms.

2- Are they atoms of same element or

two different elements. Provide the
reason. p=6 p= 6
Same element because both atoms n=6 n= 8
have same number of protons. e= 6
e= 6
3- Identify the element using periodic 12 14
table. Carbon C C
6 6

4- Write the atomic notation for both

atoms.
Ions are formed when an atom
lose or gain electrons. Atoms
do this so they have full outer
energy levels.
Loss of e Li+
Li
Gain of e -
Cl Cl H atom
Loss of e
Na Na+
Gain of 2 e
O O-2

-
H Ion
+ H Ion
Learning Objectives

 Describe the plum pudding model

 Describe the Geiger-Marsden alpha scattering
experiment (often called the Rutherford experiment)
 Describe the results of the Geiger-Marsden
experiment
 Explain how the results of the Geiger-Marsden
experiment disproved the plum pudding model of the
atom, and what they told us about the structure of
the atom
 Describe the Bohr model of the atom, and explain
how it can be used to explain the fact that a given
element will only emit electromagnetic radiation of
certain wavelengths (or 'colours’)
The Development of the Model of the Atom

1904 1911

Tiny solid Plum Pudding Nuclear Planetary Discovery

Sphere Model Model Model Model of Neutrons
The model of the atom changed as new evidence
was discovered.
John Dalton
Atoms were thought to be tiny …………………….
that could not be ………………… .
J.J Thomson
 Discovered …………….. (1897) which led to
the development of the plum pudding model
(1904).

 Plum pudding model – atom is a ball of

………………….. charge (……………. part)
with negatively charged …………….......
embedded (plum) in it.
Rutherford Model – Experiment
Thin gold foil

 In 1909 Ernest Rutherford

designed alpha particle (He
nucleus) scattering experiment
to test the plum pudding model.

 Alpha particle charge ie + 2

Screen

 In the experiment, positively

Source of
charged alpha particles were fired alpha particles
at thin gold foil.
Rutherford Model – Observations

Most alpha particles went

…………… through the foil.

Relatively small number of alpha

particles …………….. slightly.

A ……… number of alpha particles

deflected (about 1 in 10,000) by
………………….. 90°.
Rutherford Model – Conclusions
Based on his observations, Rutherford suggested a new model of the
atom - Nuclear Model

 Most of the atom is an…………………

………………
 Most of the mass is concentrated in the
……………….. of an atom (nucleus)
 Nucleus is ………………….. charged
(like alpha particles)
 Electrons orbit the ……………………….
Neil Bohr’s Model – Planetary Model

 Electrons orbit the nucleus at

specific distances.
 The further away an electron is
from nucleus, the more energy it
has.
 When an electron loses energy,
electromagnetic radiation is
emitted.
 An electron gains energy by
absorbing EM radiation.
Extended Writing Task
Compare and contrast the Thomson’s Plum Pudding Model and
Rutherford’s Nuclear Model.

Plum Pudding Model Nuclear Model

1- 1-

2- 2-

3- 3-

4- 4-
Extended Writing Task
Compare and contrast the Thomson’s Plum Pudding Model and
Rutherford’s Nuclear Model. (6 marks)
Plum Pudding Model Nuclear Model
1- Mass is evenly 1- Most of the mass is
distributed throughout the concentrated at the
atom center.

2- Atom is a solid sphere. 2- Most of the atom is empty space.

3- Positive charge is spread throughout 3- Positive charge is concentrated in a

the atom. very small part of an atom called
nucleus.

4- Negatively charged electrons 4- Negatively charged electrons orbit

embedded in the positively charge sphere. the nucleus.
Learning Objectives

 Describe what is meant by the term 'unstable nucleus' and explain the random
nature of radioactive decay
 Explain the meaning of the term 'activity' as applied to a radioactive source
 Understand the meaning of the term 'count rate' and recall that the count rate
from a source may be measured using a Geiger-Muller (GM) tube
 Recall that the radiation which is emitted from the nucleus in a nuclear decay
event may take the form of an alpha particle, a beta particle, a gamma ray or a
neutron
 Be aware of the nature of each of these types of nuclear radiation, describe their
properties (including their penetration through materials, their range in air and
their ionising power
 Complete balanced nuclear equations to describe the processes of alpha, beta,
gamma and neutron decay
Radioactive Decay – Stable and Unstable Nuclei

Hydrogen -1 Carbon -12 Carbon -14

Stable Stable Unstable

What happens to Unstable Nuclei?

Radiation
Unstable Stable Daughter
Parent Nuclei Nuclei
What is Radioactive Decay?

The nuclei of some atoms are unstable.

To become more stable these nuclei give out radiations.
This is a random process called radioactive decay.

Radiation
Stable Daughter
Unstable
Nuclei
Parent Nuclei
Types of Decay and Nuclear Radiation
Nuclear radiations emitted during radioactive decay are:
 Alpha Particle (α)
 Beta Particle (β)
 Gamma Ray (Ɣ)
 Neutron (n)

Alpha Decay
 An alpha particle is helium nucleus.
It contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons
 When a nucleus emits an alpha particle
Its mass number decreases by 4
Its atomic number decreases by 2
Alpha Decay
A A-4 4

Z
X Z-2
Y + 2
He
Unstable Stable daughter Alpha particle
parent nuclei nuclei or Helium nuclei

Example
222 4
226
Ra 86
Rn + 2
He
88
Complete the following equations for alpha decay.
Beta Decay
 A beta particle is fast moving electron which is emitted from nucleus
 When a nucleus emits a β-particle;
its mass number stays the same
its atomic number increases by 1
A A 0

Z
X Z+1
Y + -1
e
Example
14

7
N
Complete the following equations for beta decay.

234 234 0

90
Th 91
Pa + -1
e
Gamma Decay
 Gamma rays are shortest wavelength and
highest frequency electromagnetic wave.

 In gamma decay, excess energy released

by the nucleus.
 In gamma decay, there is no change in
atomic number and mass number.

High Energy Low Energy Gamma

State Nucleus State Nucleus radiation
Example 137 0

56
Ba + 0
γ
Example
Example
137 137 0

56
Ba 56
Ba + 0
γ
Example
Neutron Decay
In neutron emission, the mass number of
nucleus decrease by one and the atomic
number remains the same.

9 8 1

4
Be 4
Be + 0
n
Properties of Nuclear Radiation

 Range in the air

 Penetration through material
 Ionising Power

Range in the Air means how far it can travel through air.

• Alpha – few (3-5) cm

• Beta - few m
• Gamma - several km
Penetration through material is how far into a material the radiation will go.
1- ………. radiation has the highest
penetrating power.

2- ……… radiation has the least

penetrating power?

3- Alpha rad. is stopped by…….........

and ………...

4. Beta rad. Is stopped by …………..

5- Gamma rad. is stopped by

Penetrating power:
…………..
Gamma > beta > alpha
Ionising Power
All nuclear radiations are capable of ionising atoms that it hits
When an atom is ionised, its number of electrons change (as
ionization is loss or gain of electron)
Alpha radiation is strongly ionising
 This is because alpha particles have a charge of +2 (so they
can pull electrons from an atom)
Beta radiations are relatively less ionising than alpha radiation.
Gamma radiations are uncharged and are weakly ionising

Ionising Power α > β > Ɣ

Task

Electrical Ionising
Name Symbol Nature Stopped by What is it?
charge 'power'
Few cm air;
Alpha Particle
paper, skin

Beta

Gamma 0