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Chapter 2
Atoms, Molecules, and Ions - Review
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Textbook sections 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, and 2.7
A. Atoms
An atom consists of a positively charged nucleus
surrounded by negatively charged electrons.
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The nucleus contains protons, which have a +1
charge, and neutrons, which have no charge.
Most of the mass is in the nucleus and results
from the protons and neutrons.
The type of element is determined by the
number of protons in the nucleus. This
number is also called the atomic number, and
is indicated on the periodic table.
Since each proton has a +1 charge, the atomic
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Since each proton has a 1 charge, the atomic
number is also the charge on the nucleus of
the atom.
The periodic table of the elements is arranged
in order of increasing atomic number.
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The number of neutrons in an atom can vary.
Atoms of an element with different numbers of
neutrons are called isotopes.
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Example: Most oxygen atoms have 8 neutrons,
but some have 9 and some have 10.
O atoms with 8 neutrons are called
16
O (8
protons +8 neutrons). Those with 9 neutrons
are
17
O, and those with 10 are
18
O.
A neutral atom has the same number of
electrons as protons.
Most of the volume of the atom is occupied by
electrons moving around the nucleus.
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electrons moving around the nucleus.
Electrons contribute little to the mass of the
atom.
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B. Ions
Neutral atoms can form ions by gaining or
losing electrons.
Cations are formed when atoms lose electrons
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Cations are formed when atoms lose electrons.
Cations have a positive charge.
Na Na
+
+ e

Metallic elements found on the left side of the

periodic table tend to form cations.
Anions are formed when atoms gain electrons.
Anions have a negative charge.
Cl + e

Cl

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Non-metallic elements found on the right side
of the periodic table tend to form anions.
Ionic compounds consist of cations and anions
held together by electrostatic attraction.
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Molecular Compounds
In molecular compounds, the
atoms do not gain or lose
electrons.
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electrons.
Instead, the atoms are held
together by sharing electrons.
C. Atomic Weights and Formula Weights
The atomic weight is the weight of an atom in
atomic mass units (amu).
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The amu is defined as 1/12 of the mass of a
12
C
atom.
The atomic weights of the elements can be
found on the periodic table.
The atomic weights on the periodic table are
averages for all the different isotopes.
For example, the atomic weight for carbon is
12.0107 amu, even though an atomof
12
C
12
12.0107 amu, even though an atom of C
weighs exactly 12 amu.
12.0107 amu is the weighted average of
98.90% of carbon atoms that are
12
C and
1.10% of carbon atoms that are
13
C.
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The formula weight of a compound is the
sum of the atomic weights of each atom in
its chemical formula.
It can be calculated using atomic weights
fromthe periodic table and the chemical
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from the periodic table and the chemical
formula.
Examples: calculate the formula weights
for:
NaCl Al
2
(SO
4
)
3
H
2
O C
12
H
22
O
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A molecular weight is the formula weight of a
compound that exists as a molecule.
It is the average mass of one molecule.
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D. Avogadro's Number and the Mole
Real world samples contain very large numbers of
atoms.
Amole is a more convenient measure of chemical
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A mole is a more convenient measure of chemical
quantities.
One mole of particles equals 6.0221367 x 10
23
particles (atoms or molecules or ions).
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6.0221367 x 10
23
is called Avogadros number, N
A
.
Avogadros number was defined such that 1 mol of
12
C atoms has a mass of 12 g.
moles = particles / N
A
particles = moles x N
A
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moles particles / N
A
particles moles x N
A
Molar mass is a way to relate the mass of a
sample with the number of moles in a sample.
The molar mass of a substance is defined as
the mass of 1 mole of the substance.
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The units are g/mol.
Because of the way Avogadros number was
defined, the formula weight and the molar mass
are numerically the same.
mass of 1
12
C atom=12 amu
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mass of 1 C atom 12 amu
mass of 1 mol of
12
C atoms =12 g
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Molar mass can be used to calculate the
number moles of a substance in a given mass.
molar mass
mass
moles =
19
Example:
The molar mass of water is 18.02 g/mol. How
many moles of water are there in 87.2 g of
water? How many water molecules are there?
Molar mass can be used to calculate the mass
of particular number of moles of a compound.
molar mass moles mass =
20
Example:
Calculate the mass of 0.235 moles of KI.