STRUCTURE OF

THE ATOM
 MODULE : 1

• Introduction & activity

We have learnt that atoms and molecules are the
fundamental building blocks of matter
Are atoms really
indivisible?

gold
What makes the atom Gold foil Atoms of gold
We shall find out the
of one element different answers to these
from the atom of questions in this
another element? chapter
A C T I V I T Y
Rub
Comb a glass
dry hair.rodDoes
with a the
silk
comb
cloth
Comb and
thenbring
attract
thesmall
rod near
piecesanof inflated
Balloon From these activities, can we
dry We know
balloon.
paper? Glass that
rodan electrically
attract the
hair Within
Where
conclude thedoesatoms
that this
on present
charge
rubbing in the
two
charged
Observed
balloon.
So, The object can
what
atomrod. attract
happens??
is divisible. an
comb
come
objects and glass
from??
together, They become
uncharged object.
electrically charged.

Silk cloth

Glass
These simple experiments tell us
Comb
rod
that some charged particlesSmall
are pieces
Of paper
present in the atoms of matter.
 MODULE : 2

• Discovery of Electrons &

Thomson's atomic model
Many scientists contributed in revealing the presence
of charged particles in an atom.

Discovery of sub-atomic
particles

It was known by 1900 that the atom

was not a simple, indivisible particles
but Contained at least one
sub - atomic particles.
 He
He directed
A British the Cavendish
was awarded
physicistthe
was
NobelLaboratory
bornprize at
in Cheetham
in physics Hill,
for
J.J Thomson
Cambridge
his
a suburb
work onoffor 35discovery
the years andon
Manchester, seven
of 18 of his research
electrons.
December
(1856-1940)
assistants
1856. subsequently won Nobel prizes.
 THOMSON’S
ATOMIC
MODEL
Negative
electrode
 Thomson passed electricity at high voltage through a gas at very
low pressure taken in a discharge tube.
 Streams of minute particles were given out by the cathode.
 These streams of particles are called cathode rays.
Because they
come
 Cathode rays consist of small negatively charged particles out of
called
electrons. Cathode
 Since all the gases form cathode rays it was concluded that all the
atoms contain negatively charged particles called electrons.
 MODULE : 3

• Canal rays, protons &

characteristics
Thomson proposed the model of an atom to be similar to that
of a Christmas pudding.

The electrons , in a sphere of positive charge. Were like a currants

(dry fruits) in a spherical Christmas pudding.
While the electrons are studded in the positively charged sphere,
like the seeds in the watermelon.
Thomson proposed that:

Positive charge

Negative charge

Electron

i) An atom consists of a positively charged sphere and the electrons

are embedded in it.

ii) The negative and positive charges are equal in magnitude. So, the
atom as a whole is electricallyNeutral.
No charge
 Characteristics of an
Electron

Mass of an
Electron 1
 The mass of an electron is about
1840 of the
mass of hydrogen atom
 The mass of an electron is so small that it is
considered to be negligible.

Charge of an
Electron
 The absolute charge on an electron is 1.6 10-19coulomb of negative
charge.
 The relative charge of an electron is, -1 (minus one).
 MODULE : 4

• Rutherford's gold foil

experiment & drawback
E. Goldstein discovered the presence of new radiations in a gas
Discharge and called them canal rays.

These rays were positively charged radiations.

This sub-atomic particle had a

charge, equal in magnitude but
opposite in sign to that of the
electron.

Its mass was approximately 2000

times as that of the electron.

It was given the name ofproton.

Which is represented
as ‘p’
Characteristics of a proton

The two important characteristics of a

proton
are its mass and charge.
Mass of a proton

 The proton is actually a hydrogen atom

which has lost its electron.
 The relative mass of a proton is 1 u.
Charge of a proton
 The charge of a proton is equal and opposite to the charge of an
Electron.
 So the absolute charge of a proton 1.6 10-19coulomb of
positive charge.
 In other words, the relative charge of a proton is + 1(plus one).
 MODULE : 5

• Neils Bohr's atomic model &

electronic configuration
 He
Wasgot
was
isborn
famous
the
known
atNobel
spring
for
ashis
prize
the
Grove
work
‘Father’
in Chemistry
on radioactivity
30
of August
nuclear
in
physics.
1908.
1871.
and the discovery of the nucleus of an
E. Rutherford atom with the gold foil experiment.
(1871-1937)
 RUTHERFORD’S Alpha particles is a positively
MODEL OF charged particle having
AN ATOM 2 units of positive charge
& 4 units of mass

 Ernest Rutherford was interested in knowing how the electrons are

arranged within an atom.

 Rutherford designed an experiment for this.

 In this experiment, fast moving alpha () – particles were made to

fall on a thin gold foil
GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT
In front of the Keep
source keep a screens to
gold foil
thin gold foil detect the
alpha rays

Take a Thin sheet made

source of up of gold
alpha rays

They are beam of

positively
charged particle
 Stand near a GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT
fence and throw
a stone towards The first ray
the fence. passes through
the gold sheet

Let’s see the

reason behind
this by performing
a simple
experiment
GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

The first ray

passes through
the gold sheet
GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

The first ray

passes through
the gold sheet
 GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT
The stone passes
through the The first ray
fence to the passes through
other side. the gold sheet

Why does
Similarly
this
Thereinisthe
a lot of empty
gold space
atom there is a lot
happens???
between the two planks of the
of empty space from where the alpha
fence. Hence,
raysthe stone passes
passes.
through the fence.
 GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

The second ray

hits the gold foil
and turns back

Let’s see the

reason behind
this.
GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

The second
ray hits the
gold foil and
turns back
GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

The second ray

hits the gold foil
and turns back
 GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

The 2nd stone

The second ray
hits the fence
hits the gold foil
and turns back
and turns back

Thisdoes
happens
Similarly
Why inthis because
the gold the is
atom there stone
a
positively
hits the charged
happens??? part doesn’t
plank and which turns the
allow
positively
the stone charged alpha
to pass rays.
through.
 GOLD FOIL EXPERIMENT

Majority of the rays passes

through the gold sheet, this
shows that the part from which
the positively charged alpha rays
turns back is very small in size
compared to the empty space.
Conclusion of Rutherford’s alpha- particle scattering experiment show
the presence of a nucleus in the atom.

It also given the following important information about the nucleus

of an atom:

i) Nucleus of an atom is positively charged.

ii) Nucleus of an atom is very dense and hard.
iii) Nucleus of an atom is very small as compared
to the size of the atom as a whole.
The
The relative
radius ofsize of thehas
nucleus nucleus
been
infound
an atom is roughly
to be about 10the
5 same
times
As that of athan
smaller pea the
in the middle
radius of of
this large stadium.
the atom.
 Drawback of Rutherford’s Model of the Atom
 A major drawback (or defect) of Rutherford’s model of the atom is
that it does not explain the stability of the atom.
Negatively
 Any particle in a circular orbit would charged
undergo acceleration. electron

 During acceleration, charged particles

would radiate energy.

 Thus, the revolving electron would lose

Positively
energy and finally fall into the nucleus. charged
nucleus
If this were so, the atomWe
should
knowbe highly
that atoms
unstable and hence matterare would not exist
quite stable.
in the form that we know.
 MODULE : 6

• Electronic Configuration of
first 18 elements
 Neils Bohr Explained the stability of Atom

In order to explain the stability of atom and overcome the objection

against Rutherford’s model of atom, Neils Bohr gave a new
arrangement of electrons in the atom in 1913.
Neils Bohr He
Thegot
i)Was was
Among the
born in Nobel
Theory
appointed
the prize
of Spectra foronhis
and
professor
Professor
Copenhagen Bohr’s work
Atomic on 1885.
ofOctober
7 physics
numerous the
Constitution.
at
writings,
(1855-1962) structure
ii)Three
Atomic
Copenhagenof atom
Theory
appearing inbooks
and 1922.
University
as 1916.
are
iii) The Description of nature.
1. InOnly certain special orbits BOHR’S MODEL OF ATOM
order to overcome the
known as raised
objections discrete orbits
against
of electrons,model
Rutherford’s are allowed
of the
insideNeils
atom, the atom.
Bohr put
forward the following
2. While revolving in discrete
postulates about the
orbits the electrons do not
model of an atom:
radiate energy.

These orbits or shells are

represented by the letters
K,L,M,N,… or the
numbers, n = 1,2,3,4,… These orbits or shell are
called energy level.
 There is a limit to the number of
electrons which is energy level
(or shell) can hold

The maximum number of electrons which N=32

can be accommodated in any energy level M=18

of the atom is given by 2n2 (where n is the
number of that energy level). L=8
K= 2

2
2
K shell 2n = 2 =2 Nucleus
2
L shell = 2 = 8
2
M shell = 2 = 18
2
N shell = 2 = 32
 MODULE : 7

• Discovery of Neutrons &

characteristics
Composition of Atoms of the first Eighteen Elements
with Electron Distribution in Various Shells

Name of Atomic Distribution

Symbol
Element Number of Electrons
Hydrogen H 1 (1) H

Helium He 2 (2) He
Lithium Li 3 (2,1) Li
Beryllium Be 4 (2,2)
Be
Boron B 5 (2,3) B
Carbon C 6 (2,4) C
Nitrogen N 7 (2,5)
N
Oxygen O 8 (2,6)
O
Name of Atomic Distribution
Symbol
Element Number of Electrons
Fluorine F 9 (2,7)
Neon Ne 10 (2,8) F
Sodium Na 11 (2,8,1) Ne
Magnesium Mg 12 (2,8,2) Na
Mg
Aluminium Al 13 (2,8,3)
Al
Silicon Si 14 (2,8,4)
Phosphorus P 15 (2,8,5) Si
Sulphur S 16 (2,8,6) P
Chlorine Cl 17 (2,8,7) S
Argon Ar 18 (2,8,8) Cl
Ar
 MODULE : 8
• Atomic number & Mass
number
 Chadwick was born in
Bolington,Cheshire,
on 20 October 1891

In
It was
1932,
general,
eventually
J. Chadwick
a neutron
named
discovered
is represent
as neutron.
another
as ‘n’
Neutrons
the
sub-
atomic
mass
are present
ofparticle
an atom
in the
which
isnucleus
therefore
had no
of all
given
charge
atoms,
byand
thea
mass
sum ofnearly
except hydrogen.
the masses
equal toof that
protons
of a and
proton.
neutrons
present in the nucleus.

J. Chadwick
1891-1974
 Characteristics of
Neutron

Mass of
Neutrons
 The mass of neutrons is equal to the
mass of a proton. The relative mass
of a neutrons is 1 u.

Charge of
Neutrons
 Neutron has no charge. It is
electrically neutral.
 MODULE : 9

• Numericals based on atomic

number and mass number
Atomic Number and Mass Number

 ItThe atomic
is the number
number of a protons of an atom,
Atomic Number
of carbon
which is 6, so
determines itsfor
atomic number. It is
carbon,by
denoted Z=6.
’Z’ all atoms.
Atomic number tell  All the atoms of the sameNo element have the
other element
us that it is carbon same number of protons incan their nuclei,
have and
atomic
element. hence they have the same atomicnumbernumber.
6.
 No two elements can have the same atomic
In a normal atom (ornumber
neutral So we can also say that the
 Atomic number can be used to identify an
atom), the number of Atomic number of an
protons is equal to theelement. element
number Is equal to the number of
of electrons in it. electrons in a neutral
Atom.
Mass Number

Mass of an atom These are present Hence protons and

is practically due in the nucleus of neutrons are also
to protons and an atoms. called nucleons.
neutrons alone.

For example, mass of Similar, the mass

carbons is 12 u because of aluminium is 27u
it has 6 protons and 6 (13 protons + 14 neutrons).
neutrons, 6 u + 6u =
12u.
 The mass number of an
Mass Number
element is denoted by
the letter A

The mass number is defined as

In the notation for an atom,
the sum of the total number of
the atomic number, mass
protons and neutrons present
number and symbol of the
in the nucleus of an atom.
element are to be written as.

Mass A
number ZX
Symbol
Atomic
of
number element
14
7 N.
For example, nitrogen is written as
Relationship Between Mass Number and Atomic Number

Mass number = No. of protons + No. of neutrons

Since the number of We can rewrite the above

protons in an atom is relation by putting
equal to the atomic “Atomic number” in
number of the element. place of “No of Protons”

Mass number = Atomic number + No. of neutrons

 MODULE : 10

• Isotopes & different

examples (Hydrogen)
Sample problem 1.
Calculate the atomic number of an element whose atomic nucleus has
Mass number 23 and neutron number 12. what is the symbol of the
element?

Solution We know that:

Mass number = Atomic number + No. of neutrons
23 = Atomic number + 12
Atomic number = 23 - 12
= 11
The element having atomic number 11 is sodium and its symbol is Na.
If, however, we indicate the atomic number and mass number also, then
the symbol become 23 11 Na, where 11 is the atomic number and 23 is the
mass number.
 Helium atom has an atomic mass of 4 u and 2 protons in
its nucleus. How many neutrons does it have?

Solution
We know that atomic mass is numerically equal to mass number of an
atom. Since the helium atom has an atomic mass 4 u, therefore, the
mass number of helium atom will be 4. and the number of proton in
the
helium
Mass nucleus
number = has
No. been given+toNo.
of protons be of
2. Now,
neutrons 4 = 2 + No. of neutrons
no. of neutrons = 4 - 2
=
Thus, the helium2atom has 2 neutrons.
 MODULE : 11

• Isotopes of Carbon, Oxygen &

Neon
 ISOTOPES
Eg: Hydrogen
-

Protium Deuterium Tritium

Z=1
`` Z=1 Z=1
A=1 A=2 A=3

ISOTOPES are the atoms

of the same element having
same Atomic number but
different Atomic mass
number.
 Examples
ELEMENT MASS ATOMIC NUMBER OF
NUMBER (A) NUMBER (Z) NEUTRON (N)
12
C 12 6 6
6
14
6
C 14 6 8

ELEMENT MASS ATOMIC NUMBER OF

NUMBER (A) NUMBER (Z) NEUTRON (N)
35
Cl 35 17 18
17
37
Cl 37 17 20
17

Number of neutrons in isotopes is

different
Chemical properties of isotopes are the same.
The diagrams of the two isotopes of chlorine are given below:

e- e-
e- Nucleus contains 17
e- e- protons
e- 17p+ and 18 neutrons
18n
e- e-
e-
e- e-
e- e- e-
e- Nucleus contains 17
e- e- protons
(i) Cl – 35 isotope
e- 17p+ and 20 neutrons
Mass number or Atomic mass = 35 20n
e- e-
e-
e- e-
Mass number of e-
an atom is
equal to its (ii) Cl – 37 isotope
atomic mass Mass number or Atomic mass = 37
Isotopes of Hydrogen.
The hydrogen element has
three isotopes having the
same atomicIt is number of 1the above table
clear from
but different mass Soall
that isotopes
numbers exist of
the isotopes
1 2 3
1 H, 1 H, and 1 H, of 1,2 and 3Hydrogendue tocontain
respectively.difference
1 proton
in the number
and 1 electron each but they
containof0,1
neutrons.
and 2 neutrons
Name Isotope Protons Neutrons respectively.
Electrons

Protium 1
1H 1 0 1
2
Deuterium 1H 1 1 1
3
Tritium 1H 1 2 1
The diagrams of the three isotopes of hydrogen are given below:

e- e-

Nucleus
P+ P+ Nucleus
contain n
1 proton contain
only 1 proton and
1 neutron
Ordinary hydrogen (or Protium) Heavy hydrogen (or Deuterium)
Atomic mass = 1 u Atomic mass = 2 u

e-

P+ Nucleus
2n
contain
1 proton and
2 neutron
Very heavy hydrogen (or Tritium)
Atomic mass = 3 u
 MODULE : 12

• Isotopes & their application

The carbon element has three isotopes having the same atomic
number of 6 but different mass numbers of 12,13 and 14. the
three isotopes of carbon can be written as

12 13 14
C C
6 6
6 C
 All the isotopes of oxygen have the same atomic number of 8 but
they have different mass numbers (or atomic masses) of 16,17
and 18 respectively.

The various isotopes

of an element can
have slightly different
physical properties
such as densities,
16 17 18 melting points and
8
O O O
8 8 boiling points.
Since the masses of the isotopes of an element are slightly
different, therefore, the physical properties of the isotopes
of an element are slightly different.
It is obvious from the above symbols that all the isotopes of neon
have the same atomic number of 10 but they have different mass
numbers (or atomic masses) of 20,21 and 22 respectively.
20 21 22
Isotopes of Neon 10 Ne 10
Ne 10
Ne

The chemical properties of an atom of the element

depend on the number of proton and electrons, not on
the number of neutrons.

The chemical
Since all the isotopes properties of all the
of an elements isotopes of an element
contain the same number of are identical (or same).
proton and electrons.
 MODULE : 13

• Isobars
 35
1. The chlorine isotope 17 Cl
has a mass of 35 u and its
abundance ( or proportion)
in nature is 75%

2. The chlorine isotope 37

17 Cl
has a mass of 37 u and its
abundance ( or proportion)
in natural is 25%
The average atomic mass of chlorine atom.
On the basic of above data.

¿
Solution

¿¿ ¿
142
4
=35.5 𝑢 ¿

This does not mean that any one atom of

chlorine has a fractional mass of 35.5 u.

It mean that if you take a certain amount of

chlorine, it will contain both isotopes of
chlorine and the average mass is 35.5 u.
Bromine occurs in nature mainly in the form of 2 isotopes79
35
Br and
81 Br. If the abundance of 79 81
35 Br isotope is 49.7% and that of 35 Br
35
isotope is 50.3%, calculate the average atomic mass of bromine.

Solution

We know that upper digit in the symbol of

an isotope represents its mass ( which is the
same as its mass number). Now:

79
i) The mass of 35 Br isotope is 79 u and its abundance is 49.7%
81
ii) The mass of 35 Br isotope is 81 u and its abundance is 50.3%
 49.7 50.3
¿ 79 × + 81 ×
1 00 100
3926 4074.3
¿ +
100 100
¿ 3926.3 +40.743
¿ 80.006 u

Thus the average atomic mass of bromine is 80 u.

 Applications of
Uranium
Radioactive
Isotopes
Uranium-235 (235U) is
used for nuclear
fission and
Production
of energy.
`
Isotopes of some Nuclear power plant
elements are used in
the medical
treatment of deadly
disease like cancer.
Applications of
Radioactive
Isotopes

Iodine (131I) is used in

` the treatment of
GOITRE a disease
of thyroid gland
Applications of
Radioactive
Isotopes

Radioactive isotopes are used

in industry to detect the
Leakage in underground oil
Pipelines, gas pipelines
and water pipe
14
 ISOBARS

Let us
consider Atoms of different elements
two having different atomic number
elements but same atomic mass number
`
Mass
Example Isobar Protons Neutrons number
s
Argon (Ar) 18 22 40

Calcium (Ca) 20 20 40
 Which two of the following
atomic species are isotopes
of each other and which
two are isobars??

231 230 230 233

90 Z, 91 Z, 88 Z, 90 Z

Solution
(a) The isotopes of an element have the same atomic
number
but different mass numbers. The lower figure in the
above
given symbols indicate the atomic numbers. Now, in this
case there are two atoms having the same atomic
number
 231 233
90 Z, and 90
Z

(b) The isobars have different atomic numbers but same

mass numbers. The upper figures in the given symbols
indicate the mass numbers. In this case there are two mass
number of 230. So, the two isobars will be:

230 230
91 Z, and 88
Z
Thank You