2.1.

Atoms, Ions and

Compounds
Atom smallest particle of an
element which can take part in a
chemical reaction and remain
unchanged.
Nucleus very small central core of
an atom containing most of the
atomic mass. It is made of protons
and neutrons (except Hydrogen).
Subatomic Particles particles
smaller than, or form part of, an
atom:
Particl
e
Proton
Neutron

Abbreviati
on
p+
n

Relative
Charge
1+
0

Relative
Mass
1
1.001375

Electron e-

1-

0.000544

Mass Number (A) the sum of the

number of protons and neutrons
nucleons in the nucleus: also
known as the nucleon number.
Atomic (Proton) Number (Z) the
number of protons in the nucleus of
an atom. Stable atoms have the
same number of electrons as
protons.
Isotopes atoms of the same
element with different numbers of
neutrons and hence masses.

A
Z

can be written as

or as

X A

Cation a positively charged atom

or polyatomic ion; the number of
electrons is less than the number
of protons.
Anion a negatively charged atom
or polyatomic ion; the number of
electrons is more than the number
of protons.
Relative Atomic Mass the
weighted mean mass of an atom of
an element compared with onetwelfth of the mass of an atom of
carbon-12.
Relative Isotopic Mass the mass
of an atom of an isotope compared

with one-twelfth of the mass of an

atom of carbon-12.
Relative Formula Mass the
weighted mean mass of the
formula of a compound compared
with one-twelfth of the mass of an
atom of carbon-12.
Relative Molecular Mass the
weighted mean mass of an atom of
an element compared with onetwelfth of the mass of an atom of
carbon-12.
masscharge ratio=

m relative mass of an ion

=
z relative charge of an ion

Binary Compound a compound

containing two elements only.
Ion a positively or negatively
charged atom or polyatomic
covalent group; the number of
electrons is different from the
number of protons.
Polyatomic Ions an ion containing
more than one atom:
3PO43-

2CO32SO42SO32Cr2O72-

1OHNO3NO2HCO3ClO3-

1+
NH4+

3.1. Amount of Substance

Relative Formula Mass the
weighted mean mass of the
formula of a compound compared
with one-twelfth of the mass of an
atom of carbon-12.
Relative Molecular Mass the
weighted mean mass of an atom of
an element compared with onetwelfth of the mass of an atom of
carbon-12.
Amount of Substance the
quantity used for counting any

species; atoms, ions and

molecules.
Mole the amount of any
substance containing elementary
particles as there are carbon atoms
in exactly 12g of the carbon-12
isotope, that is 6.021023.
Avogadros Number the number
of atoms per mole of the carbon-12
isotope: which is 6.021023.
Molar mass the mass per mole of
a substance.
Molar gas volume the volume per
mole of gas at a stated
temperature and pressure.
n=

m
M

n=cv

dm
cm
n=
=
24 2400

pV =nRT

Empirical Formula the formula

that shows the simplest wholenumber ratio of atoms of each
element present in a compound.
Molecular Formula A formula that
shows the number and type of
atoms of each element present in a
molecule.
Anhydrous containing no water
molecules.
Hydrated a crystalline compound
containing water molecules.
Water of Crystallisation water
molecules that are bonded into a
crystalline structure of a
compound.

Yield=

actual yield
100
theoretical yield

Atom Economy=

( M r of desired products)
( M r of all products)