BBA2106: Basics in Natural Science (FBA) Lecture

Atoms, Molecules and Ions

Atoms
Chemistry is the study of matter and the interactions between different types of matter and
energy. The fundamental building block of all matter is the atom. An atom consists of three
main parts: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
The center of an atom is called nucleus that contain neutrons and protons. The nucleus is
surrounded by moving electrons. Protons have a positive electrical charge. Neutrons have no
electrical charge. lectrons have a negative electrical charge. Chemical reactions involve
interactions between the electrons of one atom and the electrons of another atom.
Ions
Atoms which have different amounts of electrons and protons have a positive or negative
electrical charge and are called ions.
Protons & Electrons in Ions
!ample ": #dentify the number of protons and electrons in the $g
%&
ion.
Solution: The atomic number of $g 'magnesium( is "&, which means that scandium has "&
protons. )hile a neutral atom for magnesium would have the same number of electrons as
protons, the ion is shown to have a %& charge. This means it has & fewer electrons than the
neutral atom or "& * & + ", electrons.
Answer: "& protons, ", electrons
!ample &: -ive the symbol of an ion which has ", e
*
and . p
%
.
Solution: The notation e
*
refers to electrons/ p
%
refers to protons. 0ince the number of protons
is an element1s atomic number, the element with an atomic number of . is o!ygen, which has
the symbol 2. The problem states that there are more electrons than protons, so we know the
ion has a negative net charge. 3etermine the net charge by looking at the difference in the
number of protons and electrons: ", * . + & more electrons than protons, or a *& charge.
Answer: 2
*&
Atoms, Molecules & Ions (U!ate! on Ma" 1#, 2011) $a%e 1
e
p
n
nucleus
Atomic structure
orbit
BBA2106: Basics in Natural Science (FBA) Lecture
Molecules
)hen two or more atoms are bonded together, they make larger building blocks of matter
called molecules. A molecule is the smallest unit of a compound that shows the properties of
that compound. #t may contain two atoms of the same element, such as N
&
, 2
&
and 4
&
, or they
may consist of two or more different atoms, such as NaCl, 4Cl, 4
&
02
5
, C
6
4
"&
2
6
, C4
5
and
4
&
2.
Elements, Atomic Number and Atomic Mass
There are many kinds of atoms called elements. lements differ from one another by the
number of protons and electrons they contain. The number of protons or electrons of each
atom of an element is called its atomic number. The mass of the nucleus i.e. protons and
neutrons of the atom of an element is known its atomic mass.
Isotopes and Nuclear Symbols
Atoms of an element that have the same atomic number but differ in their atomic mass are
called isotopes.
The nuclear symbol indicates the composition of the nucleus. The atomic number 'number
of protons( is a subscript at the lower left of the symbol of the element. The mass number
'sum of the protons and neutrons( is a superscript to the upper left of the element symbol. 7or
e!ample, the nuclear symbols of the element hydrogen are:
"
"
4,
&
"
4,
8
"
4
Example 3: )rite the nuclear symbols for three isotopes of o!ygen in which there are ., 9,
and ", neutrons, respectively.
Solution: The element symbol for o!ygen is 2 and its atomic number is .. The mass numbers
for o!ygen must be . % . + "6/ . % 9 + ":/ . % ", + ".. The nuclear symbols are written this
way:
"6
.
2,
":
.
2,
".
.
2
Example 4: )rite the nuclear symbol for an atom with 8& protons and 8. neutrons.
Solution: The element with 8& protons is germanium, which has the symbol -e. The mass
number is 8& % 8. + :,, so the nuclear symbol is:
:,
8&
-e
Atoms, Molecules & Ions (U!ate! on Ma" 1#, 2011) $a%e 2
1
11
1
H
1
1
11
2
1
H H
1
3
hydrogen deuterium tritium
mass number
atomi c number
BBA2106: Basics in Natural Science (FBA) Lecture
Example : 2ne of the harmful species from nuclear fallout is the radioactive isotope of
strontium,
9,
8.
0r. 4ow many protons and neutrons are there in the nucleus of strontium*9,;
Solution: The number of protons is given in the nuclear symbol as the atomic number, 8..
2btain the number of neutrons by subtracting that number of protons from the mass number:
number of neutrons + 9, * 8. + <&
8. protons, <& neutrons
==========================================================================
Particle Symbol
Mass !"ar#e
amu grams >nits Coloumbs
Electron e
*
"?".8< 9.",9",
*&.
*" *".6",
*"9
Proton p
%
" ".6:8",
*&.
%" %".6",
*"9
Neutron n or n
o
" ".6:<",
*&.
, ,
Periodic $able
A chart in which elements having similar chemical and physical properties are grouped
together is known as periodic table. The hori@ontal rows are called periods and vertical
columns are called groups. #n modern periodic table, elements are arranged by atomic
number.
Atoms, Molecules & Ions (U!ate! on Ma" 1#, 2011) $a%e &
BBA2106: Basics in Natural Science (FBA) Lecture
%istribution o& elements on Eart" and in 'i(in# Systems
The maAority of elements are naturally occuring. 4ow are these elements distributed on arth,
and which are essential to living systems;
arthBs interior can be divided into* crust, mantle and core. arthBs crust e!tends from the
surface to a depth of about 5, km. 0cientists have been able only to study the crust. 2f the .8
elements that are found in nature, "& make up 99.:C of arthBs crust by mass. They are 'in
decreasing order of natural abundance( o!ygen '2(, silicon '0i(, aliminum 'Al(, iron '7e(,
calcium 'Ca(. magnesium '$g(, sodium 'Na(, potassium 'D(, titanium 'Ti(, hydrogen '4(,
phosphorus 'P(, and manganese '$n(. The elements are not evenly distributed throughout
arthBs crust, most of them occur in combined forms.
#t is believed that there is a solid core consisting mostly of iron at the centre of arth..
0urrounding the core is a layer called mantle, which consists of hot fluid containing iron,
carbon, silicon, and sulfur.
The essential trace elements in the human body which make up about ,." C of body mass are
iron '7e(, copper 'Cu(, @inc 'En(, iodine '#(, and cobalt 'Co(. These elements are necessary
for biological functions such as growth, transport of o!ygen for metabolism, and defense
against disease. Too much or too little of these elements in our body over an e!tended period
of time can lead to serious illness, retardation, or even death.
Ions, Isotopes, & Atoms )ui*
)+,: $o c"an#e 'i to 'i-, you need to:
'a( add one electron
'b( remove one proton
'c( remove one electron
'd( add one neutron
Atoms, Molecules & Ions (U!ate! on Ma" 1#, 2011) $a%e '
Abundance of the Elements in
the Human Body
Element
Percent by
Mass
(g/100g of sample)
Oxygen 65
arbon 1!
"ydrogen 10
#itrogen 3
alcium 1$6
%hosphorus 1$2
&ll others 1$2
Natural Abundance of the
Elements
Element
Percent by
Mass
(g/100g of sample)
Oxygen '5$5
(ilicon 2)$2
&luminum !$3
*ron 6$2
alcium '$)
+agnesium 2$!
&ll others 5$3
Core
Mantle Crust
('0 ,m) (2-00 ,m)
(3'!0 ,m)
Figure. A cross-section of the Earth
BBA2106: Basics in Natural Science (FBA) Lecture
)+.: /e
.-
and /e
3-
are di&&erent:
'a( ions
'b( isotopes
'c( elements
'd( atoms
)+3:
,4
0
! and
,.
0
! are examples o& carbon:
'a( ions
'b( neutrons
'c( isotopes
'd( molecules
)+4:
,4
0
! "as "ow many protons1
'a( 6
'b( "&
'c( "5
'd( &,
)+: 'i
-
and !u
.-
are examples o&:
'a( anions
'b( cations
'c( isotopes
'd( molecules
)+0: 2"at is t"e symbol &or an ion w"ic" "as 3 protons and ,4 electrons1
'a( N
8*
'b( 2
&*
'c( 2
8*
'd( 7
*
)+5: 2"at is t"e nuclear symbol &or t"e isotope o& oxy#en w"ic" "as 6 neutrons1
'a(
"6
.
2
'b(
":
.
2
'c(
".
.
2
'd(
".
9
2
)+3: 'i
-
"as "ow many electrons1 7"int: t"e atomic number o& lit"ium is 38
'a( ,
'b( "
'c( &
'd( 8
)+6: 9ow many protons, neutrons, and electrons does
5
4
:e
.-
"a(e1
'a( 5,8,&
'b( 5,8,5
'c( 5,8,6
'd( 5,6,8
)+,4: N
3+
"as:
'a( : protons and 5 electrons
'b( : protons and ", electrons
'c( : protons and "" electrons
'd( . protons and "" electrons
Atoms, Molecules & Ions (U!ate! on Ma" 1#, 2011) $a%e #