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Lesson 2
Atoms and atomic structure
Objectives
By the end of this lesson you should be able to...
• define the following terms: atom; neutron; proton; electron; atomic weight;
atomic number; mass number; isotope
Dalton’s Atomic Theory Read Section 2.3 What are the Postulates of
Dalton’s Atomic Theory? on pages 35–37 in the
• All matter is made up of very tiny, text book.
indivisible particles, which Dalton
called atoms. The interaction among atoms account for the properties of matter.
Lesson 2 | Atoms and atomic structure
page 2-1
AIAS Natural Medicine
Chemistry
Further studies by other scientists provided other chemical theories and laws that
proved Dalton’s Atomic Theory.
• The Law of Conservation of Mass. Matter can neither be created nor destroyed
it merely changes form. For example physical and chemical changes described
earlier. The chemical changes that occur (chemical reactions) will be discussed in
more detail later.
Part 2. Atoms
An atom is the smallest particle of an
element that retains all of the chemical Read Section 2.4 What are Atoms Made of? on
pages 38–43 in the text book.
properties of the element. Each atom
is composed of subatomic particles,
which are the building blocks for atoms.
Mass
Charge
The negatively charged electrons in the extranuclear space are arranged in highly
ordered orbitals (discussed later). The electron orbitals are maintained by the
repulsive forces between the electrons and the strong attractive forces between the
negatively charged electrons and the positively charged nucleus.
Activity 2.2
Activity 2.1
Complete the following self
assessment.
Complete the following self
assessment. Using table 2.1 on page 38 of
your text book, determine the
1. Draw the structure of an charge, mass (both g and amu),
atom. Show the location and and location in the atom for a
charge of each subatomic proton, a neutron, and an
particle within an atom. electron.
Note that most elements do not have the same number of neutrons as protons and
electrons
An atom as a whole is electrically neutral: that is, it has no net electrical charge in its
resting state. This is because there are equal numbers of positive and negative
charges, and the charged protons and electrons cancel each other out. However, most
atoms interact with other atoms to form ions, compounds or molecules, and these
events can alter the number of electrons present in the atom, affecting the overall
charge on the atom (this is discussed later).
Part 4. Isotopes
Studies of various elements show that
the number of protons and electrons Read Section D Isotopes and Section E Atomic
Weight on pages 40–42 in the text book.
for each element will always remain
the same; the atomic number does not
vary. In contrast, the number of neutrons in an element is not always constant: the
atomic mass may vary.
Remember that the number of protons is fixed, and always equals the atomic number.
What changes are the neutrons.
Answers to activities
Revision problems
a. True
b. False
c. False
d. False
e. False