Chapter 1- Atoms

and Elements
Secondary IV ST Science
Kuper Academy
What is an atom?
An atom is the smallest particle of matter. It is the smallest unit of an
element.

● Aristotle believed that an atom was infinitely divisible. He believed that all
matter was made of the four primary elements.
● Democritus believed that matter was made of tiny indivisible particles
called atoms. He was right about the atom but wrong that it is indivisible.
What is an atom?
How is an atom divisible?

You can technically split an atom, to release nuclear energy (nuclear

fission. That is an atomic bomb). This, however, involves a nuclear
change.
What is an atom?
Dalton’s Atomic Model (1808)
“Billiard Ball Model”
He proposed that…
● atoms are solid, indivisible spheres.
● atoms of different elements differ in
size and mass.
● atoms of different elements can join
together in specific ratios to form
compounds.
What is an atom?
Thomson’s Atomic Model (1897)

“Blueberry Muffin Model”

He proposed that…

● The atom is a mass of positively charged

matter in which negatively charged particles
called electrons are embedded
 What is an atom?
How did Thomson make his discoveries? Cathode Ray Tubes.
● John Thomson used a device known as a Cathode ray tube for his
experiments.
● A cathode ray tube is a glass tube that is connected to a vacuum pump to
remove the air. It contains two pieces of metal (any metal) connected to a high
voltage supply. One metal plate is connected to the negative and is called the
cathode, the other is connected to the positive and is called the anode. When
the high voltage is applied to the metal, it produces a (most commonly) green
beam that looks like a laser light.
What is an atom?
Discovery #1:
The Cathode ray was always attracted to the
positive electric plate (anode).
● This means that the Cathode ray is negative!
What is an atom?
Discovery #2

The cathode ray was repelled by a magnet.

● This means that the Cathode ray is not light, but matter!
What is an atom?
This was further proven by the
paddlewheel test.

The cathode ray is able to turn the glass

paddle. The cathode ray is a stream of
particles.
What is an atom?
Discovery #3
Even when using different metals for the Cathode,
Thomson obtained the same results.
● All matter contained these negative particles.
● These particles are called electrons and they are
found in all atoms.
What is an atom?
Rutherford’s Atomic Model (1911)

● This model has a small, dense, positively charged

nucleus.
● The nucleus is surrounded by randomly distributed
negatively charged particles (electrons).
● The nucleus is the new feature of this model.
What is an atom?
How did Rutherford make his discoveries? Gold Foil
Experiment.

● Rutherford studied radioactivity. Radioactive

substances can emit three types of particles;
alpha (positively charged), beta (negatively
charged) and gamma (electrically neutral).
● He bombarded a sheet of gold foil with a stream
of alpha particles. The sheet of gold foil is
extremely thin. The expectation was that the
alpha particles would shoot through….
What is an atom?
What actually happened was that some alpha particles bounced back.
This was like shooting a 15 inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and
having it bounce back.
What is an atom?
● This tells us that the alpha particle hit something with a like charge, hence
why it was repelled.
● Since most of the alpha particles passed through this tells us that the
atom is mostly empty space with a dense small positively charged
nucleus.
What is an atom?
Rutherford- Bohr Model (1913)

● This model has a small, dense, positively charged

nucleus surrounded by electrons moving in
specific orbits or energy levels.
● The number of electrons in an atom is always equal
to the number of protons in the nucleus.
What is an atom?
How did Bohr make his discoveries? Emission Spectrums.

● When visible light is passed through a prism, the full spectrum showing all
the component colours can be seen.
● Visible light is made up of colours having different wavelengths. This is why
a continuous electromagnetic spectrum results from passing light through a
prism.
What is an atom?
● When chemical elements are heated they also emit light but only at
certain wavelength, so only certain colours.
● Bohr proposed that electrons occupy certain orbitals. Each orbital
represents a different energy level.
● Each orbital can carry a maximum number of electrons (2, 8, 8 rule).
What is an atom?
● Electrons, when excited (heated) can jump up to a higher energy level.
They will rapidly drop back down and when they do, they emit light of a
certain colour/ wavelength.
What is an atom?
The Simplified Atomic Model (1932)

The only flaw with the Rutherford-Bohr model was that

the nucleus was assumed to be composed of only
positively charged particles which means it should not
have been able to stay together as these particles
should have been repelling each other.

● James Chadwick discovered the neutron.

● The neutron is a particle contained in the nucleus
with no charge. It keeps the nucleus together.
What is an atom?
The Simplified Atomic Model

● Displays the number of protons and neutrons in

the nucleus.
● Displays the number of electrons on each electron
shell (orbitals).
The Periodic Table
● The periodic table has specific information about each element.
● The number of protons is always the same as the number of electrons.
The Periodic Table
● The number of neutrons an element has can be calculated
● Number of neutrons= (Mass Number (Atomic mass rounded to nearest
whole number)- Atomic number)
● Number of Neutrons= 59-27=32
The Periodic Table
There are 3 main groups on the periodic table…

You can recognize the divide by the staircase.

● Metals
● Non-Metals
● Metalloids
The Periodic Table
Metals
● Grouped to the left of the step line.
● Conduct electricity and heat.
● Malleable (can be rolled into sheets).
● Ductile (can be drawn out into a wire).
● Many react with acids
● Usually shiny/ lustrous
● All solids at room temperature except
mercury is a liquid.
 The Periodic Table
Non-metals
● Grouped to the right of the step-line
● Insulators (generally don’t conduct electricity)
● Not malleable (will break into pieces)
● Not ductile (brittle)
● Not shiny
● Many are gas at room temperature, the ones that
are solids at room temperature can be reduced
into a powder.
The Periodic Table
Metalloids/ Semimetals
● Elements grouped along the step-line
● Combination of metal and non-metal properties.
The Periodic Table
Groups/ Families

● Columns are called families or groups.

● Share common properties (they will have
similar reactions to certain substances).
● Number of valence electrons is equal to
the group number.
● Valence electrons are the electrons
found on the outermost orbital.
● Atoms want to have a complete/ full
outer shell.
The Periodic Table
The roman numeral next to the letters indicate the number of valence
electrons.
The Periodic Table
● Group 1: Alkali Metals
○ Group #1 = 1 Valence electron
○ Highly reactive, soft metals.
○ Warning: Hydrogen gas is NOT an alkali metal, it does not belong to a
group.
○ They are rarely found on their own in nature they are found as
compounds since they are so reactive.
 The Periodic Table
● Group 2: Alkaline Earth Metals
○ Group # 2 = 2 Valence electrons.
○ Reactive and malleable.
○ They burn easily in the presence of heat.
○ Rarely found in their elemental state.
○ They form many compounds that are
found in rocks or earth, hence their
name.
 The Periodic Table
● Group 7: Halogens
○ Group #7 = 7 Valence electrons
○ Reactive non-metals, often form salts.
○ Used in disinfectants (Chlorine, Bromine).
○ Can be solid, liquid or gas.
○ “Halo” means salt in greek, these often
form salts (non metal and metal
compound)
 The Periodic Table
● Group 8: Noble Gases (Rare Gases or Inert Gases)
○ Group #8 = 8 Valence electrons
○ Non- Reactive gases.
○ They are very stable because they have a
complete outer shell of electrons.
○ Often found on their own in nature.
○ Warning: Helium has 2 valence electrons (it’s
outside energy level is full, remember 2, 8, 8).
The Periodic Table
Periods
● Horizontal rows.
● The period number
corresponds to the number
of electron shells/orbitals for
that element.
Representing the Atom
*Remember*
● When representing atoms, it is important to
keep in mind that atoms want to have a
complete outer shell. They want to have the
maximum number of valence electrons and
will form molecules according to this
tendancy.
● Electron shells fill in order and have carrying
capacities.
● There can be a maximum of 2 elecrons on a
first shell, 8 on the second, and 8 on the third.
This is the 2, 8, 8 rule.
Representing the Atom
Lewis Notation
● Simplified representation that only
displays the amount of valence
electrons.
● It is also referred to as the electron dot
notation.
● It is represented by placing dots around
the chemical symbol like the four points
of a compass.
● Dots are to be placed evenly around
before doubling up.
Representing the Atom
Rutherford-Bohr Model
● Shows the positive charges in the nucleus and
the number of electrons in each electron shell.
● The number of positive (protons) and negative
(electrons) charges are always equal.
● Group # indicates the number of valence
electrons.
● Period # indicates the number of electron shells.
● Atomic # indicates the number of protons/
electrons.
Representing the Atom
Simplified Atomic Model

● Shows the number of protons and neutrons located in the nucleus.

● Indicates the number of electrons found in each energy level.
● Number of neutrons are calculated by rounding the atomic mass to the
nearest unit (Mass Number) and subtracting the atomic number from it.
Representing Atoms
Ball and Stick
● Indicates which atoms are bonded together in molecules.
● Atoms with more energy levels/ electron shells appear larger in the
diagram.
● Atoms are balls.
● Bonds are sticks.