Notes on Atomic Structure

Atoms have 3 parts called subatomic particles

1. Protons positive particles found inside the nucleus of an atom (1800 times larger than an electron)
2. Electrons negative particles found outside the nucleus ( 1/1800 the size of a proton)
3. Neutrons neutral particles found inside the nucleus (same size and mass as a proton)
Atoms have the same number of protons and electrons. The number of neutrons can vary.

REMEMBER! P E N An atom is made up of protons, electrons, and neutrons

Note: Protons are positive and neutrons act as the glue to hold them inside the nucleus.otherwise they
would repel (move away from) each other. (Remember! Opposites attract and like charges repel)

Note: This is the current model. With newer technologies we have learned that there are more than the 3 sub-
atomic particles protons, electrons and neutrons. Using a machine called a hadron collider, scientists have
been able to move protons at the speed of light and collide them into one another expecting to fuse together and
create a new particle. Instead the collision caused them to break apart into even smaller pieces they named
quarks. Out study will not take into account the structure of quarks.

CHEMICAL SYMBOL the international abbreviation of the element name always 1 or 2 letters

PROTONS MAKE AN ATOM WHAT IT IS

ATOMIC NUMBER TELLS HOW MANY PROTONS IN AN ELEMENT

* Atomic Number = the number of protons in an atom

ATOMIC MASS TELLS THE WEIGHT OF AN ELEMENT (How many protons AND neutrons
are in the nucleus)

The number of neutrons do NOT make a difference in the identity of an atom

Atoms of the same element have the same number of protons, but can have different numbers of
neutrons
ISOTOPES are atoms of the same element with a different number of neutrons and different atomic
masses.example Gold has anatomic number of 79that means there are 79 protons (and 79
electrons as an atom has no charge and the protons and electrons cancel each other out)it has an
atomic mass of 196.97 and since the all mass is in the nucleus of the atom that means there are 118
neutrons in the nucleus ( 197 79 = 118)there are gold atoms, however, that have 117 neutrons with
still 79 protonsthat is why the given atomic mass is 196.97this means that on the average gold has
118 neutrons and 79 protons.
To name an isotope you write the name of the element , a dash, and the atomic weightex. Cl-37
 Atomic Structure continued

Inside the Atom protons (positive charge) and neutrons (no charge/neutral)

Outside the Atom - the electrons (negative charge)

Hydrogen the simplest of all atoms

1 proton 1 electron 0 neutrons
Atomic number is 1(1 proton) Atomic mass is 1 (only 1 particle in the nucleus)

Helium
2 protons 2 electrons 2 neutrons
Atomic number is 2 Atomic mass is 4 (2protons + 2 neutrons in the nucleus)

Uranium
92 protons 92 electrons 146 neutrons
Atomic number is 92 Atomic Mass is 238 (92 protons + 146 neutrons)

NOTE* An atoms number of protons, electrons and atomic number will always be the same
The same element will always have the same number of protons, but can have different
numbers of neutrons (Isotope)

ELECTRONS:

Travel around the nucleus in orbitals or shells

The first shell K shell holds 2 electronsthen it is full
The second shell L shell holds 8 electrons until full
The third shell M shell holds 8 electrons until full
The fourth shell N shell holds 18 electrons until full
The fifth shell O shell holds 18 electrons until full
The sixth shell P shell - holds 32 electrons until full
The seventh shell Q shell 0 holds 32 electrons until full

Example: Calcium atom has 20 protons, 20 electrons, and 20 neutrons

That means there are 2 e on the first level, 8 e on the second level, 8 e on the third level, and 2 on the
fourth and outer level (2 + 8 + 8 + 2 = 20)

Tungston atom has 74 protons, 74 electrons and 109 neutrons (atomic mass = 183)
That means there are 2 e on K shell, 8 e on L shell, 8 e on M shell, 18 e on N shell, 18 e on O shell,
20 e on P shell - ( 2 + 8 + 8 + 18 + 18 + 20 = 74)