Atoms and Elements

Atoms and elements
Atoms
• Atoms are the smallest particles of matter , that we cannot break
further.
• Single atoms are too small to be seen. Moving electrons
• For example , we can see sodium , only if there are enough atoms
together.
• Atoms are mostly empty space ,
• They consists of a nucleus and electrons which move around nucleus.
Nucleus
Sodium is made of tiny particles Mercury is made of tiny particles

called sodium atoms. called mercury atoms.
Elements
• An element contains only one kind of atom.
• There are 118 elements , of which 90 are naturally found and others
are made by scientists.
• For our ease , every element has a symbol.
III IV V VI VII VIII
I II
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2
5
6
7
Period number indicates the

number of shells in the
atom.
More about atoms
• Atoms consists of nucleus , and a cloud of electrons that move around the nucleus.
• The nucleus is cluster of protons and neutrons.
• Protons are positively charged particles
• Electrons are negatively charged
• Neutrons have no charge.
• Since they make up an atom , so they are also called sub atomic particles.
• Atoms are very light so they are measured in atomic mass units.( A unit for measuring
mass of an atom).
Proton number
• The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is called its P =11
N =12
proton number ( Atomic number).
• For sodium proton number is 11.
• Every atom has an equal number of protons and electrons.
So number of electrons in sodium in 11.
• Protons and neutrons cluster together to form nucleus. So
they are also called nucleons.
• The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of
an atom is called its nucleon number.
• Therefore , the nucleon number for the sodium atom is (11
+12) = 23 Cluster of protons
and neutrons
Any element can be described as follows
Atomic mass no.
Atomic no.
Symbol
Atomic number and atomic mass number of first 20 elements
Elements Symbol Atomic Atomic mass Elements Symbol Atomic Atomic

no. no. no. mass
Hydrogen H 1 1 no.
Magnesium Mg 12 24
Helium He 2 4
Aluminium Al 13 27
Lithium Li 3 7
Silicon Si 14 28
Beryllium Be 4 9
phosphorus P 15 31
Boron B 5 11
sulfur S 16 32
Carbon C 6 12
Chlorine Cl 17 35
Nitrogen N 7 14
Argon Ar 18 40
Oxygen O 8 16
Potassium K 19 39
Fluorine F 9 19
Calcium Ca 20 40
Neon Ne 10 20
sodium Na 11 23
Isotopes and radioactivity
But , in some cases carbon

Most carbon atoms are like In this case , no. of neutrons
atoms have different number
this , 6 protons , 6 neutrons are 8 ,That makes 14 nucleons
of neutrons. In this case no.
That makes 12 nucleons So it is called Carbon-14
of neutrons is 7.
So it is called Carbon-12 That makes 13 nucleons
So it is called Carbon-13
These three atoms above are called isotopes of carbon.

Chlorine has 2 isotopes ,calcium has 6 , magnesium has 3 , Iron has 4.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element which have the same number of proton , but different number of neutrons.
Radioactive isotopes
• Some isotopes behave in strange way . They have unstable nucleus .
• Sooner or later the atoms break down or decay by giving out radiation in form of particles ( alpha or beta particle), rays
(gamma rays) and high amount of energy.
• This process is called radioactivity and such isotopes are called radioisotopes.
• E.g. Carbon -14 , cobalt -60 , potassium-40 etc are radioactive isotopes.
gamma
rays
Uses of radioisotopes
• Engineers can check oil or gas pipes for leaks by adding radioisotopes to the oil or gas .
• If Geiger counter detects radiation outside the pipe , it gives reading and we hear beep , it means there is leak.
Geiger counter
• Radioisotopes are used in radiotherapy , to

cure cancer.
• Cobalt-60 is usually used , because the
gamma rays in radiation , kills cancer cells ,
when gamma rays are aimed carefully at
site of cancer.
• Gamma radiations are also used to kill germs and sterilise syringes and other disposable medical equipment .
• Some vegetables , fruits , spices , etc are treated with low dose of radiation to kill bacteria's and viruses.
• Cobalt -60 and caesium-137 are used for it.
Sterilization of medical equipments
Carbon dating
• Our bodies contain some carbon-14 ,
taken in food .
• When we die , carbon -14 continues to
decay. So scientist can tell the age of
the ancient remains by measuring the
radioactivity from them.
• Radioisotopes are used as fuel in nuclear
power plant , because they give out high
amount of energy when break down. This mummy was found to be 5300 years old
Harmful effect of radiations
• If the Radiations from radioisotopes gets into your body , it will kill body cells.
• Victims vomit a lot , feels tired.
• Their hair falls our , gums bleed and they may die within week.
• Even small doses of radiation , over a long period , will cause cancer.
Radiation causes cancer

How electrons are arranged ?
• Electrons are arranged in shells around the nucleus .
• The first shell , closest to the nucleus , is the lowest energy level.
• The further a shell is from the nucleus , the higher the energy level.
• Each shell can hold only a certain number of electrons .These are the rules. (2n 2 , where n , is the
number of shell
The distribution of electrons in the atom above is written in a short way as 2.8.8 or
(2,8,8).
The electron shells of first 20 elements
Patterns in the periodic table

1.The period number tells you how many shells are there .
2.All the elements in a group have the same number of
electrons in their outer shells.
3.The valence electrons dictate how an element reacts .
Group VIII , a special group
The elements in group VIII have a very stable arrangement of electrons.
• Their atoms all have 8 outer shell electrons , except for helium , which has 2 .
• Groups VIII is sometimes called 0 group.
• This electronic arrangement of electrons makes group VIII elements unreactive.
After the 20th element , calcium the electron shells fill in a more complex order.
For eg , The element rubidium is the 37th element .
It is in group 1 and period 5 which shows 1 electron in outer shell and 5 total shells ,
so the electronic configuration is ( 2, 8 , 18 , 8 ,1)
Properties of metals Properties of non metals
1.Good conductors of heat and electricity 1.Do not conducts heat and electricity, except
graphite which is a form of carbon
2.High melting and boiling points-which means 2.Low melting and boiling points – many are gases
they are solid at room temperature, except at room temperature.
Mercury which is liquid at RT.
3.Hard ,strong , do not shatter if you hammer 3.Solid non metals break up easily –they are
them, except sodium and potassium which can be brittle. Except diamond which is a form of carbon
cut by knife.
4.They are malleable –which means they can be 4.Solid non metals are not malleable or ductile-
beaten into thin sheets. And they are ductile – they are brittle.
which means they can be drawn into thin wires.
5.Look shiny when they are polished. 5.Look dull in the solid state
6.They are sonorous –make a ringing noise when 6.Solid non metals break if you strike them
they are struck .
7.Have high density 7.Solid non metals have low density
8.Form positive ions when they react 8.Forms negative ions when they react,except
hydrogen which forms positive ion
9.React with oxygen to form oxides that are 9.Reacts with oxygen to form oxides that are
bases. acidic .
Exceptions in metals Exceptions in Non- metals
Mercury is in liquid state at room temperature

Carbon is non – metal , but one of its form –
graphite is a good conductor of electricity
Hydrogen is a non
metal , but it forms
positive ion.
Sodium and potassium are not very hard Diamond – on form of carbon , is the hardest
material and it has hight melting point.
Uses of metals
• Shiny metals such as copper, silver, and gold are often used for decorative arts, jewelry, and coins.
Strong metals such as iron and metal alloys such as stainless steel are used to build structures,
ships, and vehicles including cars, trains, and trucks.
• Copper is used for making electrical wires
• Aluminium is strong but light , so it is used in planes and space rockets.
Non metals are everywhere
• Air is almost 80% nitrogen , and about 20 % oxygen
• Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
• Our bodies are mostly water , plus hundreds of carbon compounds . Many of these contain atoms of
other non-metals too , such as nitrogen , phosphorus , iodine.
• Sand is mainly silicon dioxide , formed from silicon and oxygen.
Sea , sand , sky , palm – made almost all of Non -metals

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Atoms and elements

Sodium is made of tiny particles Mercury is made of tiny particles

Period number indicates the

Atomic mass no.

Elements Symbol Atomic Atomic mass Elements Symbol Atomic Atomic

But , in some cases carbon

These three atoms above are called isotopes of carbon.

• Radioisotopes are used in radiotherapy , to

Sterilization of medical equipments

Radiation causes cancer

Patterns in the periodic table

Mercury is in liquid state at room temperature

Sea , sand , sky , palm – made almost all of Non -metals

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