Atomic Structure

Atomic
Structure
IGCSE SCIENCE
Reference
 Textbook: pg 203-207
Atoms Video
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xazQRcSCRaY
General structure of an atom
 Nucleus in the middle. It contains protons and neutrons
 Electrons around the nucleus in shells.

Sub-atomic particles
 An atom is made up of 3 sub-atomic particles.
 Protons, neutrons and electrons.
 You need to learn two key properties of these sub-atomic particles

1. Charge
2. Relative mass
Sub-atomic particles
Name Charge Mass (relative)

Proton +1 1
Neutron 0 1
Electron -1 1/1836
Atomic number and Mass number
 Periodic table tells you about the structure of an atom.
 Atomic number is the smaller number.

 Atomic number= number of protons
 Nucleon number= number of protons + number of neutrons
 Therefore
 Number of protons= atomic number
 Number of neutrons= Mass number- atomic number
 Number of electrons= number of protons
Practice
 Find the number of protons, electrons and neutrons for
1. Hydrogen
2. Fluorine
3. Copper
4. Silver
5. Nitrogen
Electron configuration
 Shows how electrons are arranged in an atom
 1st shell 2 electrons

 2nd shell 8 electrons
 3rd shell 8 electrons….
 There are more but we will learn up to this point.
Why is electron configuration important?
 Electron configuration and number of valence electrons determine
the chemical properties of the atoms.
Support sheet
Practice: Write their electron configuration
1. Neon
2. Nitrogen
3. Helium
4. Boron
5. Aluminium
Extension
Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle
Wave-particle duality
 Wave-particle duality describes a phenomenon where extremely
small particles such as photons (light) and electrons would have the
characteristics of both a wave and a particle.
 Therefore, electron’s motion around the nucleus was described as a

wavelike motion with mathematics.
Spherical Dumb-bell
Electrons as waves
 The electrons act like 3D standing waves (Waves which do not
propagate) around the nucleus.
 This area where electrons exist are called atomic orbitals.

Isotopes
 Isotopes are atoms with different number of neutrons but
the same number of protons.
Support sheet
Isotopes of hydrogen
Isotopes of Carbon
 Carbon-12
 Carbon-13
 Carbon-14
 Compare the number of protons, electrons and neutrons of

Carbon-12 and Carbon-14
Comparison between isotopes
Apart from their masses and related physical properties,

isotopes will have identical properties.
Isotopes will have the same number of protons and electrons

and therefore they will have the same chemical properties.
Radioactive isotopes
 Specific numbers of protons and neutrons make a stable nucleus structure.
 Any other variations can cause unstable nucleus which is “eager” to

change.
 Radioactivity occurs when nucleus changes its number of protons and

neutrons to become more stable.
Example: Radioactive decay
Industrial Use
 Carbon dating: Carbon-14’s beta radiation is used to estimate the age
of old fossil or archaeological finds.
 Americum-241 is used in smoke detectors for homes and businesses.
 Nickel-63 is used in light sensors in cameras and plasma display.
Medical Use
 Cobalt-60 which release gamma radiation is used to sterilize
equipment or to kill cancerous cells.
 Rubidium-82, technetium-99 and thallium-201 are used as tracers
for nuclear imaging.
Video for radioactive isotopes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYvx0O8itMA
Marie Curie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JFRi0Qm_s

Special Example: Uranium-235
 Uranium-235 is induced for fission (splitting) by bombardment of
neutrons. This results in release of energy and some more neutrons.
 These newly release neutrons hit more Uranium -235 which leads to
many more fissions and release of energy.
 Step 1 and 2 repeats with many more Uranium-235 atoms. This is
called a chain reaction and results in huge amount of energy released
in a short amount of time.
The periodic table
 Lists all the elements in the order of atomic number
 The positions of the elements are carefully chosen and

creates a pattern/trends in the periodic table.
Groups and Periods
 Groups= columns of the periodic table (same number of
valence electrons)
 Periods= rows of the periodic table (same number of energy

levels)
Metals vs Non metals
 Where can you find the metal elements?
 Where can you find the non-metal elements?
 Where can you find the metalloid?

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Atomic

 Electrons around the nucleus in shells.

 Protons, neutrons and electrons.

 You need to learn two key properties of these sub-atomic particles

Name Charge Mass (relative)

 Atomic number is the smaller number.

 1st shell 2 electrons

Practice: Write their electron configuration

 Therefore, electron’s motion around the nucleus was described as a

 This area where electrons exist are called atomic orbitals.

 Compare the number of protons, electrons and neutrons of

Apart from their masses and related physical properties,

Isotopes will have the same number of protons and electrons

 Any other variations can cause unstable nucleus which is “eager” to

 Radioactivity occurs when nucleus changes its number of protons and

Marie Curie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JFRi0Qm_s

 The positions of the elements are carefully chosen and

 Periods= rows of the periodic table (same number of energy

 Where can you find the non-metal elements?

 Where can you find the metalloid?

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