Atomic Structure

Pupils should be able to

(a) state the relative charges and approximate relative masses of a proton, a
neutron and an electron

(b) describe, with the aid of diagrams, the structure of an atom as consisting of
protons and neutrons (nucleons) in the nucleus and electrons
arranged in shells (energy levels)

(c) define proton (atomic) number and nucleon (mass) number

(d) interpret and use nuclide notations such as

(e) define the term isotopes

(f) deduce the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms and ions
given proton and nucleon numbers

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 1

The Atom
• An atom is the smallest particle of an element that has the chemical properties of that element.
• Each element is made up of only one type of atom with the same number of protons.

Brief history of atomic structure

• In 1808, John Dalton proposed that all matter is made up of small indivisible particles known as atoms.
• In 1897, J. J. Thomson discovered the electron through the cathode ray experiment. *
• In 1897, Rutherford proposed the plum pudding model which states that the atom consists of
electrons surrounded by a sea of positive charges.
• In 1911, after the gold foil experiment, Rutherford discovered that most of the mass of the atom is
concentrated in the nucleus and proposed the planetary model.
• In 1913, Bohr proposed the Bohr model of the atom, stating that electrons orbit the nucleus in fixed
orbits with fixed energy.
• In 1932, Chadwick discovered the neutron and proposed that the nucleus consisted of both neutrons
and protons.
• This leads us to the model of atom that you have learnt previously in lower secondary chemistry.

The 2,400-year search for the atom

TED-Ed (Theresa Doud)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xazQRcSCRaY (0.00 – 3.52)

* Discovery of Electrons

Infinity Learn NEET.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJSF6Miq2sc

The Atomic Structure

Subatomic particle Symbol Relative charge Relative mass Actual mass/g

Proton p +1 1 1.66 x 10-24

Neutron n 0 1 1.66 x 10-24

𝟏
Electron e –1 9.04 x 10-28
𝟏𝟖𝟒𝟎

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 2

 Notation of Individual Nuclides Notation of Nuclides in Periodic Table

 Nucleon number is the total number of particles present in the nucleus

Therefore it is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. It is also called the
mass number

 Proton number is also called atomic number because all atoms that belong to the same element
has the same Proton number. It gives the atom its identity.

The Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms in Bohr model

st rd
1 Shell 3 Shell
 Closest to the nucleus  Higher energy than 2nd
 Lowest in energy level shell
 Can hold a maximum of 2  Usually holds up to 8
electrons electrons (may hold
 Electrons always fill up more than 8 electrons)
this shell first  3rd shell is filled up
after the 2nd shell
nd
2 Shell
Nucleus
 Higher energy than 1st shell
 Contains protons & neutrons
 Can hold a maximum of 8 electrons
(p + n)
 Generally electrons fill up singly first
 Has an overall positive charge
before pairing up (to minimize repulsion
due to protons
between negatively charged electrons)

Fig. 1: The filling of electron shells

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 3

All atoms are electrically neutral.

Atoms contain neutrons which do not have any charge, as well as an equal number of positively charged
protons and negatively charged electrons. Thus, the charges cancel each other completely and the overall
charge of atoms is zero.

The arrangement of electrons in an atom can be represented using electronic configuration

You can build your own atom using this simulation:

ICT link: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/build-an-atom

Valence Shell and Valence Electrons

 The valence shell or the outer shell of an atom refers to the shell that is furthest away from the

 nucleus of the atom. The electrons in the outer shell of an atom are known as

 valence electrons or outer electrons.

Electron Configuration Diagrams

Fuse School (Matthew Tosh, Daniel Zavaleta)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSkJzE2Vz_w

Electron Configuration of the First 20 Elements

Fuse School (Heinrich Mouton)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qwDLW6fq8Q

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 4

 Number of Electrons in
Simplified
Proton
Element Symbol Electronic
Number 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Structure
shell shell shell shell

hydrogen H 1 1 1

helium He 2 2 2

lithium Li 3 2 1 2.1

beryllium Be 4 2 2 2.2

boron B 5 2 3 2.3

carbon C 6 2 4 2.4

nitrogen N 7 2 5 2.5

oxygen O 8 2 6 2.6

fluorine F 9 2 7 2.7

neon Ne 10 2 8 2.8

sodium Na 11 2 8 1 2.8.1

magnesium Mg 12 2 8 2 2.8.2

aluminium Al 13 2 8 3 2.8.3

silicon Si 14 2 8 4 2.8.4
phosphorus P 15 2 8 5 2.8.5

sulfur S 16 2 8 6 2.8.6

chlorine Cl 17 2 8 7 2.8.7

argon Ar 18 2 8 8 2.8.8

potassium K 19 2 8 8 1 2.8.8.1

calcium Ca 20 2 8 8 2 2.8.8.2

Table. 1: Electronic Configuration of 1st 20 Elements

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Periodicity and electronic configurations

 Across each period the atoms of elements have the same number of electron shell(s), but different
number of valence electrons in their valence shell.

 Therefore, across each period, the elements have different chemical properties due to their different
number of valence electrons.

 Down each group, the atoms of elements have the same number of valence electrons in the valence
shell, but different number of electron shells.

 Therefore, down each group, the elements have similar chemical properties due to the same number
of valence electrons.

Groups and Periods in the Periodic Table

SPM Malaysia IPTV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAYSM0xRLk

Isotopes

 Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons, but different number of
neutrons.

 Most elements occur naturally as a mixture of isotopes. For example, hydrogen consists of 3 isotopes:
hydrogen-1, hydrogen-2 and hydrogen-3 while chlorine consists of 2 isotopes: chlorine-35 and
chlorine-37.
Hydrogen-1 Hydrogen-2 Hydrogen-3

1e 1e 1e

1p 1p 1p
0n 1n 2n

Fig. 2: Isotopes of hydrogen. Only their neutron number differs

What are isotopes

Fuse School (Anisha Tailor, Andrea Bonnano)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjY5p-1CDr8

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 6

 Isotopes have the same chemical properties but slightly different physical properties.

 This is because isotopes have the same number of electrons. Both chlorine-35 and chlorine-37
reacts with sodium similarly to produce sodium chloride.

 As for physical properties, chlorine molecules containing chlorine-37 (37Cl–37Cl) has a slightly
higher boiling point and density than chlorine molecules containing chlorine-35 (35Cl–35Cl) due to
its larger relative mass.


Isotopes: The Siblings of Atoms

Free Animate Education

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42gUZNYco0c

Isotopes Elements in same group

Chemical property Same Similar

Reason Same number of electrons Same number of valence electrons

Calculating Relative Atomic Mass

 Each isotope of an element has a certain percentage chance to be found in nature, and this percentage
chance of finding a specific isotope in a random sample of that element is known as relative
abundance (%).

 If an isotope has a large relative abundance, it means that it can be found in nature quite easily.

 If an isotope has a small relative abundance, it means that it is rare and cannot be found in nature
easily.

 Relative atomic mass =

How to calculate Relative Atomic Mass

Fuse School (Simon Faulkner, Sachin Limbachia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdhLTfma_Eg

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 7

Example 1

If chlorine has 2 isotopes with relative masses of 35 and 37 and relative abundance
of 75% and 25% respectively, calculate the relative atomic mass of chlorine.

[ 00 35) +
[x 37) 35
=

Example 2

If boron has 2 isotopes with relative masses of 10 and 11, given that boron has a
relative atomic mass of 10.8, calculate the relative abundance of boron-10 and
boron-11.

2024 Secondary 3 Chemistry (6092) 8

 (more protons than electrons
+
ve

lous
-
ve
elections than piotors)
-

(more

~ massnumberher
O 24
#- charge
Mg
O
12

opiotons/
atomic number

=> He
11t S ,
F ,
Na , Ar ,
C

Entoms Trions

Alst- >
If there is a charge , it's an ion

He -If the's no charge, it's called an atom

Helium (He) He +
(2)

3
nobel gas (has fully filled valence shells
(s+ale)
nobel gas
48
Au >
-
(2 8 8) .
. all contain
fully filled
18

has a fully filled valence shell Valence shell ,

Stahle no need to share,+

lose

= (2 .
8 :

6)

does not have fully filled valence shell

can gain 2
 ↓ gave away selections
13 Ar (2 . 8 .

3)
---
Af3t-they
= 2 .
8 (fully filled)

=> (2 ,
8 , 7)
-

·
3 shells = Periods (number of shells = no .
of period)
7 valance = group number 17
election (7 valance election + 10)