ATOMS AND ELEMENTS

Radioactivity
One of the pieces of evidence for the fact that atoms are made of smaller particles came from the work of Marie Curie (18761934). She discovered radioactivity , the spontaneous disintegration of some elements into smaller pieces.

ATOMIC COMPOSITION
Protons
+ electrical charge mass = 1.672623 x 10-24 g relative mass = 1.007 atomic mass units (amu) (amu)

Electrons
negative electrical charge relative mass = 0.0005 amu

Neutrons
no electrical charge mass = 1.009 amu

ATOM COMPOSITION
The atom is mostly empty space
protons and neutrons in the nucleus. the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. electrons in space around the nucleus. extremely small. One teaspoon of water has 3 times as many atoms as the Atlantic Ocean has teaspoons of water.

The modern view of the atom was developed by

Ernest Rutherford
Canterbury University in Christchurch, NZ

Ernest Rutherford
(1871-1937).

Rutherford birthplace, Nelson, NZ

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The modern view of the atom was developed by Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937).

The modern view of the atom was developed by Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937).

Atomic Number, Z
All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons in the nucleus, Z
13 Al 26.9815 atomic number symbol atomic weight

Mass Number, A
C atom with 6 protons and 6 neutrons is the mass standard = 12 atomic mass units

Isotopes
Atoms of the same element (same Z) but different mass number (A). Boron-10 ( 10B) has 5 p and 5 n Boron-11 ( 11B) has 5 p and 6 n
11B

Boron in Death Valley

Mass Number
= # protons + # neutrons A boron atom can have A = 5 p + 5 n = 10 amu

A Z

10 5

10B

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Isotopes & Their Uses

An MRI image of a guinea pig lung done using hyperpolarized hyperpolarized helium-3. Ar-129 is Ar-129 also used.
See wwwcivm.mc.duke.edu/ civmProjects

Isotopes
10B

11B

Periodic Table
Dmitri Mendeleev developed the modern periodic table. Argued that element properties are periodic functions of their atomic weights. We now know that element properties are periodic functions of their ATOMIC NUMBERS. NUMBERS. See CD-ROM, Screen 2.16.

Because of the existence of isotopes, the mass of a collection of atoms has an average value. Average mass = ATOMIC WEIGHT Boron is 20% 10B and 80% 11B. That is, 11B is 80 percent abundant on earth. For boron atomic weight = 0.20 (10 amu) + 0.80 (11 amu) = 10.8 amu amu) amu)

Periods in the Periodic Table

Groups in the Periodic Table

Group 1A: Alkali Metals

Reaction of potassium + H 2O Cutting sodium metal

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Group 3A: B, Al, Ga, In, Tl Ga,

Magnesium

Group 4A: C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb Si, Ge, Sn,

Quartz, SiO 2

Magnesium oxide

Aluminum

Boron halides, BF3 & BI3

Diamond

from http://cnst.rice.edu/images

Group 5A: N, P, As, Sb, Bi Sb,

From the Comic Book Periodic Table

Ammonia, NH 3

White and red phosphorus

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Group 6A: O, S, Se, Te, Po Te,

Group 7A: F, Cl, Br, I, At Cl,

Group 8A: He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn Ne, Ar, Xe,
Lighter than air balloons Neon signs

Shuttle main engines use H2 and O2

Sulfur

XeOF 4

Transition Elements
From the Comic Book Periodic Table

Lanthanides and actinides

Iron in air gives iron(III) oxide

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