Atoms

1. Atomic Structure
What is Atom?                                                    

An atom is the basic unit of an element that can be

chemically combined. The word atom was taken
from the Greek word “atomos” meaning “cannot be
cut”. Democritus said that atoms are invisible, 2. Electron
indestructible fundamental units of matter but not
until 1804 an English chemist John Dalton  Electrons are one of three main types of
developed the first modern theory of the atom. particles that make up the atom. They are
Dalton’s theory is summarized as follows: extremely small and have an electric
charge of −1−1. All atoms have the same
1.    All matter is composed of tiny indivisible number of electrons as protons.
and indestructible particles called atoms.  Negative electrons are attached to the
positive nucleus. This force of attraction
2.    All atoms of a given element are identical keeps electrons constantly moving around
in mass and properties. the nucleus. The region where an electron
is most likely to be found is called an
3.    Compounds are combinations of two or orbital.
more different types of atoms.  Electrons are located at fixed distances
from the nucleus, called energy levels.
4.    A chemical reaction is a rearrangement of Electrons at lower energy levels have less
atoms. energy than electrons at higher energy
levels.
(To understand more about Dalton’s Theory click  Mass of electron is 9.11 x 10-24 grams
the link  https://history.aip.org/history/exhibits/electro
below: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/che n/jjhome.htm(history of Electron)
mistry/electronic-structure-of-atoms/history-of-
atomic-structure/a/daltons-atomic-theory-version-
3. Proton
2)
·         A proton is a stable subatomic particles with
a positive charge, symbol p or p+
An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains
all of the chemical properties of an element. Atoms
·         It is found in the atomic nucleus.
combine to form molecules, which then interact to
form solids, gases, or liquids. For example, water
is composed of hydrogen and oxygen atoms that ·         Mass of proton is 1.67 x 10-24 grams
have combined to form water molecules. Many
biological processes are devoted to breaking down The link below is about the history of proton.
molecules into their component atoms so they can
be reassembled into a more useful molecule. https://byjus.com/chemistry/proton-neutron-
Atoms are made up of even smaller particles discovery/#:~:text=The%20discovery%20of%20the
called subatomic particles. The fundamental %20proton,discovery%20of%20the%20atomic
subatomic particles which make up the atom are %20nucleus.
the electrons, protons, and neutrons. An atom is
composed of two regions: the nucleus, which is in 4. Neutron
the center of the atom and contains protons and
neutrons, and the outer region of the atom, which ·         A neutron is a particle with no charge and
holds its electrons in orbit around the nucleus. has almost the same mass as proton.

·         Protons and neutrons are the massive

particles of an atom.
·         Neutrons are located inside the nucleus              Z = atomic mass or atomic weight
which is the densest part of the atom.
             X = element
·         Mass of neutron is 1.672 x 10-24 grams
Atomic number (A) – represents the number of
·         http://chemistry.bd.psu.edu/jircitano/neutron. protons in the nucleus of an atom of the element.
html Since atom is electrically neutral,

Atomic number = number of protons = number

of electrons
Isotopes  

1. Isotopes Atomic mass or atomic weight (Z) – total number

of protons and neutrons in an atom of an element.
 The term "isotope" was introduced by the British
chemist Frederick Soddy in 1913, as Atomic mass = number of protons + number of
recommended by Margaret Todd. The word means neutrons
"having the same place" from the Greek
words isos "equal" (iso-) + topos "place." Isotopes To find the number of neutrons, simply subtract the
occupy the same place on the periodic table even number of protons or electrons from its atomic
though the isotopes of an element have different mass.
atomic weights.
Number of neutrons = atomic mass – number
Let's imagine a pair of identical twins. These twins of protons or electrons
have the same temperament, and since they're
identical, it is very hard to tell them apart unless
you examine them closely. When it is time for their
annual physical, the twins need to step on a
weighing scale, and when they do, one weighs
slightly more than the other. In terms of chemistry,
we can say that these twins are like isotopes of
each other.

Isotopes are atoms with the same number Examples Of Isotopes

of protons but different numbers of neutrons, In
other words, isotopes have different atomic      Isotopes of Hydrogen
weights but same atomic number. Isotopes have
corresponding symbols that are written in the
pattern that follows.

     

Where  A = atomic number Isotopes of Carbon

 World-wide, isotopes are used in many sectors
including medicine, industry, agriculture and food
processing, and science.

Isotopes
2. Kinds of Isotopes

Scientists divide isotopes into two main types:

radioactive and stable. Both types see wide use in
several industries and fields of study.

 Stable Isotopes

Stable isotopes have a stable proton-neutron

combination and do not display any sign of decay.
This stability comes from the amount of neutrons
present in an atom. If an atom has too many or too
few neutrons, it is unstable and tends to
disintegrate. Since stable isotopes do not decay,
they do not produce radiation or its associated
health risks.

Oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen and carbon are

examples of stable isotopes. Stable Isotopes are
commonly used in Geochemistry, the study of
geological materials such as minerals and rocks.

 Radioactive isotopes

Isotope that undergoes radioactive or nuclear writing chemical compounds

decay, also known as radionuclide, radioisotope or
radioactive nuclide. Radioactive isotopes have an
unstable combination of protons and
neutrons. They decay and change into different
elements over time.

Radioactive isotopes find uses in agriculture, food

industry, pest control, archeology and medicine. 

Isotopes
3. Common Isotopes and their Uses
naming compounds