IB Chemistry

ATOMIC THEORY

Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure
Atoms are very small ~ 10-10 meters
All atoms are made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons and
electrons

The

protons and neutrons form a small

positively charged nucleus
The electrons are in energy levels outside the
nucleus

Atomic Structure
The actual values of the masses and charges
of the sub-atomic particles are shown below:

A meaningful

way to consider the masses of the subatomic particles is to use relative masses

Atomic Structure Definitions

Atomic number (Z) is the number of
protons in the nucleus of an atom. The
number of protons equals the number of
electrons in a neutral atom
N.B. No. of protons always equals the no.

of electrons in any neutral atom of an

element.

Mass number (A) is the sum of the

number of protons and the number of
neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
So

how can you work out the number of neutrons in an atom?

No. of neutrons = Mass number atomic number

Atomic Structure -

Example

So

how can you work out the number of neutrons in

an atom?
Example

No. of neutrons = Mass number atomic number

No. of neutron = Mass No. Atomic No.

= 23 11
= 12

Atomic Structure -

Questions

1. What are the three sub atomic particles that

2.
3.
4.
5.

make up the atom?

Draw a representation of the atom and
labelling the sub-atomic particles.
Draw a table to show the relative masses
and charges of the sub-atomic particles.
State the atomic number, mass number and
number of neutrons of: a) carbon, b) oxygen
and c) selenium.
Which neutral element contains 11 electrons
and 12 neutrons?

Atomic Structure -

Questions

5. Copy and complete the following table:

Summary Slide
All atomic masses are relative to
the mass of carbon-12.
Eg one hydrogen atom weighs 1/12
the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with
the same atomic number, but different mass
numbers, i.e. they have different numbers of
neutrons.
Each atom of chlorine
contains the following:
35 Cl
17

17 protons
17 electrons
18 neutrons

37 Cl
17

17 protons
17 electrons
20 neutrons

The isotopes of chlorine are often referred to as

chlorine-35 and chlorine-37

Isotopes
Isotopes of an element have the same chemical
properties because they have the same number
of electrons. When a chemical reaction takes
place, it is the electrons that are involved in the
reactions.
However isotopes of an element have the
slightly different physical properties because
they have different numbers of neutrons, hence
different masses.
The isotopes of an element with fewer neutrons
will have:

Lower masses
Lower densities

faster rate of diffusion

lower melting and boiling points

Isotopes -

Questions

1. Explain what isotopes using hydrogen as an

example.
2. One isotope of the element chlorine, contains
20 neutrons. Which other element also
contains 20 neutrons?

3. State the number of protons, electrons and

neutrons in:
a) one atom of carbon-12
b) one atom of carbon-14
c) one atom of uranium-235
d) one atom of uranium-238

Mass Spectrometer
The mass spectrometer is an instrument used:
To measure the relative masses of isotopes
To find the relative abundance of the isotopes

in a sample of an element

When charged particles

pass through a magnetic
field, the particles are
deflected by the magnetic
field, and the amount of
deflection depends upon
the mass/charge ratio of
the charged particle.

Mass Spectrometer

Stages
Once the sample of an element has
been placed in the mass spectrometer,
it undergoes five stages.
Vaporisation the sample has to be in
gaseous form. If the sample is a solid or
liquid, a heater is used to vaporise some
of the sample.
X (s) X (g)
or X (l) X (g)

Mass Spectrometer

Stages
Ionization sample is bombarded
by a stream of high-energy
electrons from an electron gun,
which knock an electron from an
atom. This produces a positive
+
X

X
+
e
ion:
(g)
(g)
Acceleration

an electric field is used to accelerate

the positive ions towards the magnetic field. The
accelerated ions are focused and passed through a
slit: this produces a narrow beam of ions.

Mass Spectrometer

Stages
Deflection
The accelerated ions are deflected into
the magnetic field. The amount of
deflection is greater when:
the mass of the positive ion is less
the charge on the positive ion is greater
the velocity of the positive ion is less
the strength of the magnetic field is
greater

Mass Spectrometer
If all the ions are travelling at the same
velocity and carry the same charge, the
amount of deflection in a given magnetic
field depends upon the mass of the ion.
For a given magnetic field, only ions with
a particular relative mass (m) to charge
(z) ration the m/z value are deflected
sufficiently to reach the detector.

Mass Spectrometer
Detection ions that reach the detector
cause electrons to be released in an ioncurrent detector
The number of electrons released, hence
the current produced is proportional to
the number of ions striking the detector.
The detector is linked to an amplifier and
then to a recorder: this converts the
current into a peak which is shown in the
mass spectrum.

Atomic Structure

Mass

Spectrometer

Name the five stages which the

sample undergoes in the mass
spectrometer and make brief notes of
what you remember under each stage.
Complete Exercise 4, 5 and 6 in the
handbook. Any incomplete work to be
completed and handed in for next
session.

Atomic Structure Mass

Spectrometer
Isotopes

of boron
m/z value
Relative
abundance
%

11

10

18.7 81.3

Ar of boron = (11 x 18.7) + (10 x 81.3)

(18.7 + 81.3)
= 205.7 + 813
100
= 1018.7 = 10.2
100

Mass Spectrometer
Questions
A mass spec chart for a sample of
neon shows that it contains:

90.9%
0.17%
8.93%

Ne
21Ne
22Ne
20

Calculate the relative atomic mass of

neon
You must show all your working!

Mass Spectrometer
Questions

90.9%
0.17%
8.93%

Ne
21Ne
22Ne
20

(90.9 x 20) + (0.17 x 21) + (8.93 x 22)

100

Ar= 20.18

Mass Spectrometer
Questions

52.
3
23.
22.
6
61.5
204 206 207 208

m/
e

Calculate the
relative atomic
mass of lead
You must show
all your
working!

Mass Spectrometer
Questions

1.5% 204Pb
23.6% 206Pb
22.6% 207Pb
52.3% 208Pb

(1.5 x 204) + (23.6 x 206) + (22.6 x 207)+(52.3

x 208)
100
306 + 4861.6 + 4678.2 +
20724.2
10878.4
100
100
Ar= 207.24

Energy Levels
Electrons go in shells or energy
levels. The energy levels are
called principle energy levels, 1
to 4.
The
energyNumber
levels of
contain subPrinciple
energy
sub-levels
levels.
level
1

These sub-levels
are assigned the
letters, s, p, d, f

Energy Levels
Each type of sub-level can hold a
different maximum number of
electron.
Maximum
Sub-level

number of
electrons

10

14

Energy Levels
The energy of the sub-levels
increases from s to p to d to f. The
electrons fill up the lower energy
sub-levels first.
Looking at this table can you
work out in what order the
electrons fill the sub-levels?

Energy Levels
Lets take a look at the Periodic
Table to see how this fits in.

Electronic Structure
So how do you write it?

1s2
Energy level

Sub-level

Example
For magnesium:
1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2
Number of
electrons

Electronic Structure
The electronic structure follows a pattern the
order of filling the sub-levels is 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s,
3p
After this there is a break in the pattern, as
that the 4s fills before 3d.
Taking a look at the table below can you work
out why this is?
This is because the 4s
sub-level is of
lower energy than the
3d sub-level.

Electronic Structure
The order in this the energy levels
are filled is called the Aufbau
Principle.
Example
(Sodium 2, 8, 1)

Electronic Structure
There are two exceptions to the Aufbau
principle.
The electronic structures of chromium
and copper do not follow the pattern
they are anomalous.
Chromium 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 3d5,
4s1
2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2. 3p6, 3d10, 4s1
Copper

1s
Write the electronic configuration for the following elements:
a) hydrogen
b) carbon

c) oxygen
d) aluminium

e) copper
f) fluorine

Electronic Structure

of ions

When an atom loses or gains

electrons to form an ion, the
electronic structure changes:

Positive ions: formed by the loss of e1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1s2 2s2 2p6
Na atom

Na+ ion

Negative ions: formed by the gain of e1s2 2s2 2p4 1s2 2s2 2p5
O atom

O- ion

Electronic Structure of transition

metals

With the transition metals it is the

4s electrons that are lost first
when they form ions:

Titanium (Ti) - loss of 2 e-

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d2

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d2 4s2
Ti atom

Ti2+ ion

Chromium (Cr) - loss of 3 e-

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s1 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d3
Cr atom

Cr3+ ion

Electronic Structure

Questions

Give the full electronic structure of

the following positve ions:
a) Mg2+
b) Ca2+ c) Al3+
Give the full electronic structure of
the negative ions:
a) Clb) Brc) P3-

Electronic Structure

Questions

Copy and complete the following

table:
No. of
No. of
No. of
Atomi
c no.

Mass
proton
no.
s

Mg
27

S2-

Ni2+

10
16

21

16

45
30

Electronic
structure
1s2 2s2 2p6
3s2

12

Al3+

Sc3+

neutron electron
s
s

26

Orbitals
The energy sub levels are made up of
orbitals, each which can hold a
maximum of 2 electrons.
Different sub-levels have different
number of orbitals:
Sublevel

Max. no.
No. of
of
orbitals
electrons

10

14

Orbitals
The orbitals in different sub-levels have
different shapes:
s orbitals
1s
p orbitals

2s

Orbitals
Within a sub-level, the electrons occupy
orbitals as unpaired electrons rather
than paired electrons. (This is known as
Hunds Rule).
We use boxes to represent orbitals:
2p

1s

2s

Electronic structure of
carbon, 1s2, 2s2, 2p2

Orbitals
The arrows represent the electrons in
the orbitals.
The direction of arrows indiactes the
spin of the electron.
Paired electrons will have opposite spin,
as this reduces the mutual repulsion
between the paired electrons.
2p

1s

2s

Electronic structure of
carbon, 1s2, 2s2, 2p2

Orbitals
Using boxes to represent orbitals, give
the full electronic structure of the
following atoms:
a) lithium
potassium
d) nitrogen

b) fluorine
e) oxygen
2p

2s
1s

c)

Orbitals
Using boxes to represent orbitals, give
the full electronic structure of the
following atoms:
a) lithium
potassium
d) nitrogen
Electronic structure of
lithium: 1s2, 2s1

2s

1s

b) fluorine
e) oxygen
2p

c)

Orbitals
Using boxes to represent orbitals, give
the full electronic structure of the
following atoms:

e) oxygen
2p

2s

1s

Electronic structure of
fluorine: 1s2, 2s2, 2p5

b) fluorine

a) lithium
potassium
d) nitrogen

c)

Orbitals
Using boxes to represent orbitals, give
the full electronic structure of the
following atoms:
a) lithium
potassium
d) nitrogen

b) fluorine
e) oxygen

Electronic structure of
potassium: 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2,
3p6, 4s1

3p
3s

2p
2s
1s

4s

c)

Orbitals
Using boxes to represent orbitals, give
the full electronic structure of the
following atoms:
a) lithium
potassium
d) nitrogen
Electronic structure of
nitrogen: 1s2, 2s2, 2p3

b) fluorine
e) oxygen
2p

2s

1s

c)

Orbitals
Using boxes to represent orbitals, give
the full electronic structure of the
following atoms:
a) lithium
potassium
d) nitrogen
Electronic structure of
oxygen: 1s2, 2s2, 2p4

b) fluorine
e) oxygen
2p

2s

1s

c)

Ionization Energy
Ionization of an atom involves the loss of an
electron to form a positive ion.
The first ionization energy is defined as the
energy required to remove one mole of electrons
from one mole of atoms of a gaseous element.
The first ionization energy of an atom can be
represented by the following general equation:
X(g) X+ + e- H > 0
Since all ionizations requires energy, they are
endothermic processes and have a positive
enthalpy change (H) value.

Ionization Energy
The value of the first ionization
energy depends upon two main
factors:
The size of the nuclear charge
The energy of the electron that has
been removed (this depends upon its distance from the
nucleus)

Ionization Energy
As the size of the nuclear charge increases the
force of the attraction between the negatively
charged electrons and the positively charged
nucleus increases.
Small
nuclear
charge

Small force
of
attraction

Smaller
ionization
energy

Large
nuclear
charge

Large
force of
attraction

Greater
ionization
energy

Ionization energy
As the energy of the electron increases, the
electron is farther away from the nucleus. As
a result the force of attraction between the
nucleus and the electron decreases.
Electrons closer
to positive
nucleus

Large force
of
attraction

Greater
ionizati
on
energy

Electrons
further away
from positive
nucleus
Small force
of

attraction

Smaller
ionizati
on
energy

Ionization energy -

Questions

Write an equation to represent the first

ionization of:
a) aluminium
b) lithium
c) sodium

Trends across a Period

Going across a period, the size of the 1st
ionisation energy shows a general
increase.
This is because the electron comes from
the same energy level, but the size of
the nuclear charge increases.
+

Going across a Period

Trends across a Period

(2

exceptions)

The first ionisation of Al is less than that of Mg,

despite the increase in the nuclear charge.
The reason for this is that the outer electron
removed from Al is in a higher sub-level: the
electron removed from Al is a 3p electron,
whereas that removed from Mg is a 3s.
Electronic structure

Ionisation energy/kJ mol1

Na

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1

494

Mg

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2

736

Al

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p1

577

Si

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p2

786

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p3

1060

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p4

1000

Cl

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p5

1260

Ar

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6

1520

Trends across a Period

(2

exceptions)

The first ionisation energy of S is less than that of

P, despite the increase in the nuclear charge.
In both cases the electron removed is from the 3p
sub-level. However the 3p electron removed from
S is a paired electron, whereas the 3p electron
removed from P is an unpaired electron.
When the electrons are paired the extra mutual
repulsion results in less energy being required to
remove an electron, hence a reduction in the
ionisation energy.
Sulphur

Phosphorus
3p
3s

3p
3s

Trends across a Period Questions

There is a break in this general trend going across

a Period.
Look at the table below and point out where the
break in the the trend is and try to give an
Electronic
Ionisation energy/kJ
explanation.
structure

mol-1

Na

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1

494

Mg

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2

736

Al

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2,

3p1

577

Si

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2,

3p2

786

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2,

3p3

1060

1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2,

3p4

1000

1s , 2s , 2p , 3s ,
Cl sub-level (s, p, d
1260
Clue: which
or f is the outer electron in?
3p
2

Trends across a Period Questions

Now take a look at the graph below:

First ionisation
-1
energy/kJ mol

3000

He

2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

Ne
N

Ar

Be
Li

F
O

Mg
Na

10

Al

P
Si

Cl
Ca

S
K

15

20

25

Atomic number (Z)

a) Explain what the graph shows in as much detail as

possible
b) There is one other break in the general pattern
going across a Period. What is it and explain why

Trends down a Group

Down the Group

Ionization energy decreases

going down a Group.
Going down a Group in the
Periodic Table, the electron
removed during the first
ionization is from a higher
energy level and hence it is
further from the nucleus.
The nuclear charge also
increases, but the effect of the
increased nuclear charge is
reduced by the inner electrons
which shield the outer electrons.

Ionization energy

- Questions

1. Explain why sodium has a higher first

ionization energy than potassium.
2. Explain why the first ionization
energy of boron is less than that of
beryllium.
3. Why does helium have the highest
first ionisation energy of all the
elements?
4. Complete Tasks

Successive Ionization
energy
Definition: 2nd i.e.
The energy per mole for the process
X+(g)
X2+(g) +eAnd so on for further successive ionisation energies

Successive Ionization
energy
Successive i.es increases because
electrons are being removed from
increasingly positive ions.
Therefore, nuclear attraction is
greater.
Large jumps seen when electron
is removed form a new sublevel
closer to the nucleus

Successive Ionization
energy
Large increase between
4th and 3rd shells
electron closer to
nucleus

2nd i.e higher than

first electron has
greater pull from
nucleus

Electron Affinity
Energy Change per mole for:
X (g) + e-

X-(g)

That is, for the gaseous atoms to

gain an electron to form anions

Electron Affinity
The first e.a is negative (exothermic) because
the electron is attracted to the positive charge
on the atoms nucleus.
The second e.a is positive (endothermic)
because an electron is being added to an ion
which is already negative : repulsion occurs