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Atoms and the Periodic Table
DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the unit. the students must have:
1. describe the basic structure of an atom, including its subatomic
particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons). applied the basic
foundations to real-life examples
2. describe the organization of the periodic table in terms of periods
(rows) and groups (columns).
3. recognize the significance of the periodic table as a tool for
classifying elements based on their properties.
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Introduction
Take a moment to appreciate the great variety of colors, textures, and other
properties in the materials that surround you—the array of colors in a flower
garden like the one shown to the left, the texture of the fabric in your
clothes, or the solubility of sugar in a cup of coffee. How can we explain the
striking and seemingly infinite variety of properties of the materials that
make up our world? What accounts for these differences? The answers to all
such questions lie in the structures of atoms, which determine the physical
and chemical properties of matter.
Subatomic Particles and Atomic Structure
Atoms possess internal structure; that is, they are made up of even smaller
particles, which are called subatomic particles. A subatomic particle is a very
small particle that is a building block for atoms. Three types of subatomic
particles are found within atoms: electrons, protons, and neutrons.
An electron is a subatomic particle that possesses a negative (-) electrical
charge. It is the smallest, in terms of mass, of the three types of subatomic
particles. A proton is a subatomic particle that possesses a positive (+)
electrical charge. Protons and electrons carry the same amount of charge;
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the charges, however, are opposite (positive versus negative). A neutron is a
subatomic particle that has no charge associated with it; that is, it is neutral.
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Subatomic Particles
Atomic Number and Mass Number
All atoms can be identified by the number of protons and neutrons they
contain. The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons in the nucleus of
each atom of an element. The symbol Z is used as a general designation for
atomic number. In a neutral atom the number of protons is equal to the
number of electrons, so the atomic number also indicates the number of
electrons present in the atom.
Atomic number (Z) = number of protons = number of
electrons
The mass number (A) is the total number of neutrons and protons present
in the nucleus of an atom of an element. The symbol A is used as a
generation designation for mass number. Except for the most common form
of hydrogen, which has one proton and no neutrons, all atomic nuclei contain
both protons and neutrons. In general, the mass number is given by
mass number (A) = number of protons + number of
neutrons
= atomic number + number of
neutrons
For example, the nucleus of a single oxygen atom that contains 8 protons
and 8 neutrons has a mass number of 16. An atom of iron that contains 26
protons and 32 neutrons has a mass number of 58.
Note that neutron count is obtained by subtracting atomic number from
mass number
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Number of neutrons = mass number – atomic number
(A -Z )
The number and identity of subatomic particles present in an atom can be
calculated from its atomic and mass numbers.
The table below illustrates these relationships between atomic number, mass
number, and the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in examples of
single atoms for different elements.
Table 1
Example Problem
As a micronutrient, zinc is needed for metabolic reactions in cells, DNA
synthesis, the
growth of bone, teeth, and connective tissue, and the proper functioning of
the immune system. For an atom of zinc that has a mass number of 68,
determine the following:
a. the number of protons ______________
b. b. the number of neutrons ______________
c. c. the number of electrons ______________
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Learning Activity #1
Complete the table and provide the necessary information.
Name of Atomic Mass Number of
Element No. Number p+ e- n0
(Z) (A)
Potassium 20
37 37 48
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Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number
but different numbers of neutrons. Most elements have two or more isotopes,
atoms that have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
For example, all atoms of the element magnesium (Mg)have an atomic
number of 12. Thus, every magnesium atom always has 12 protons.
However, some naturally occurring magnesium atoms have 12 neutrons,
others have 13 neutrons, and still others have 14 neutrons. The different
numbers of neutrons give the magnesium atoms different mass numbers but
do not change their chemical behavior. The three isotopes of magnesium
have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
Table 2
To distinguish between the different isotopes of an element, we write an
atomic symbol for a particular isotope that indicates the mass number in
the upper left corner and the atomic number in the lower left corner. An
isotope may be referred to by its name or symbol, followed by its mass
number, such as magnesium-24 or Mg-24.
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Isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties, but their physical
properties are often slightly different. Isotopes of an element have the same
chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons. They
have slightly different physical properties because they have different
numbers of neutrons and therefore different masses
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Isotopes: The Sibling of Atoms
Learning Activity #2
Write an atomic symbol for each of the following:
a. a nitrogen atom with eight neutrons
b. an atom with 20 protons and 22 neutrons
c. an atom with mass number 27 and 14 neutrons
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Average Atomic Mass
A chemist generally uses samples with many atoms that contain all the
different atoms or isotopes of an element. Because each isotope has a
different mass, chemists have calculated an atomic mass for an “average
atom,” which is a weighted average of the masses of all the naturally
occurring isotopes of that element. On the periodic table, the atomic mass is
the number including decimal places that is given below the symbol of each
element. Most elements consist of two or more isotopes, which is one reason
that the atomic masses on the periodic table are seldom whole numbers.
Calculating the Atomic Mass
To calculate the atomic mass of an element, we need to know the percentage
abundance and the mass of each isotope, which must be determined
experimentally. For example, a large sample of naturally occurring chlorine
atoms consists of 75.76% of 3517 Cl atoms and 24.24% of 3717 Cl atoms. The
17 Cl isotope has a mass of 34.97 amu and the 17 Cl isotope has a mass of
35 37
36.97 amu.
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Example Problem
Calculate the atomic mass for magnesium using the weighted average mass
method.
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Learning Activity #3
There are two naturally occurring isotopes of boron. The isotope 105 B has a
mass of
10.01 amu with an abundance of 19.80%, and the isotope 115 B has a mass
of 11.01 amu with an abundance of 80.20%.
Calculate the atomic mass for boron using the weighted average mass
method.
The Periodic Table
The periodic table is the most significant tool that chemists use for
organizing and remembering chemical facts. Many elements show strong
similarities to one another. The elements lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and
potassium (K) are all soft, very reactive metals, for example. The elements
helium (He), neon (Ne), and argon (Ar) are all nonreactive gases. If the
elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, their chemical
and physical properties show a repeating, or periodic, pattern.
For example, each of the soft, reactive metals—lithium, sodium, and
potassium—comes immediately after one of the nonreactive gases—helium,
neon, and argon, respectively
Arranging elements by atomic number reveals a periodic pattern of
properties. This pattern is the basis of the periodic table.
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The table shows the atomic number and atomic symbol for each element,
and the atomic weight is often given as well, as in this typical entry for
potassium:
Periods and Groups
The horizontal rows of the periodic table are called periods. The first period
consists of only two elements, hydrogen (H) and helium (He). The second
and third periods consist of eight elements each. The fourth and fifth periods
contain 18 elements. The sixth and seventh periods have 32 elements each,
but in order to fit on a page 14 of the elements from each period (atomic
numbers 57–70 and 89–102) appear at the bottom of the table. The vertical
columns are groups.
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Several groups have special names. Refer to the table below.
Table 3. Name of Some Groups in the Periodic Table
Metals, Nonmetals and Metalloids
All the elements on the left and in the middle of the table are metallic
elements, or metals. The metals are separated from the nonmetallic
elements, or nonmetals, by a stepped line that runs from boron (B) to
astatine (At). (Note that hydrogen, although on the left side of the table, is a
nonmetal.) At room temperature and pressure, some of the nonmetals are
gaseous, some are solid, and one is liquid. Many of the elements that lie
along the line that separates metals from nonmetals have properties that fall
between those of metals and nonmetals. These elements are often referred
to as semimetals or metalloids.
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The Periodic Table of Elements
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Click the link:
The Periodic Table
The Mole and Molar Mass
The Mole: A Counting Unit for Chemists
Atoms are so small that they virtually cannot be weighed using any type of
balance. There is an enormous number of atoms for any macroscopic sample
known. Thus, it would be more convenient to deal with these large numbers
by expressing them into a counting unit known as the mole (abbreviated as
mol). The mole is an SI unit that is defined to be the amount of substance
equal to the number of atoms in exactly 12.0000 g of carbon-12. This value
has been found to be 6.022 × 1023 (called Avogadro’s number, NA).
Avogadro’s Number
In chemistry, particles such as atoms, molecules, and ions are counted by
the mole, which contains 6.022 × 1023 items. It is a very big number because
atoms are so small that it takes an extremely large number of atoms to
provide a sufficient amount to weigh and use in chemical reactions. The mole
as a counting unit applies for atoms, molecules, ions, formula units, etc., as
shown in the following examples:
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This concept can be expanded by counting the number of atoms in
molecules or polyatomic ions. For example, 1 mol of CO 2 contains 6.022 ×
1023 CO2 molecules. This same amount of CO 2 thus contains 1 mol of C atoms
(6.022 × 1023 C atoms) and 2 mol of O atoms (2 × 6.022 × 1023 O atoms).
We can easily calculate the number of atoms or molecules of a substance
given its number of moles and vice versa. The following examples illustrate
this conversion:
1. How many Ar atoms are there in 0.500 mol Ar?
23
6.022 ×10 Ar atoms 23
0.500 mol Ar × =3.01 ×10 Ar atoms
1 mol Ar
2. How many moles of cobalt (Co) are in 4.960 × 1025 Co atoms?
25 1 mol Co
4.960 × 10 Co atoms × 23
=82.36 mol Co
6.022 ×10 Co atoms
3. How many H atoms are in 0.350 mol C6H12O6?
0.350
23
6.022×10 C 6 H 12 O 6 molecules 12 H atoms 24
mol C 6 H 12 O6 × × =2.53 ×10 H atoms
1 mol C 6 H 12 O6 1C 6 H 12 O6 molecule
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The mole
Example Problem
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Republic of the Philippines
Cebu Normal University
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines
College of Arts & Sciences
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 6814 local 140
Email: cnucas@[Link]
Website: [Link]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Republic of the Philippines
Cebu Normal University
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines
College of Arts & Sciences
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 6814 local 140
Email: cnucas@[Link]
Website: [Link]
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Molar Mass
Atoms of different elements for different masses. Consider the substances
shown previously. We mentioned that all of them contain 1 mol of their
respective substances, but do they have the same mass or volume? Clearly,
they do not.
The relative mass of an atom is typically expressed in atomic mass units
(amu). Since it is impossible to weigh atoms with this unit, it is customary
that the masses of substance be taken in grams. The mass in grams of 1 mol
of a substance is called the molar mass. The sample substances illustrate
that the atomic mass or formula mass (in amu) and the molar mass (in
grams) are numerically equal but only differ in their units. This means that
the molar masses of elements can be derived directly from the Periodic
Table. For example, the atomic mass of Cu is 35.45 amu. Therefore, the mass
of 1 mol of Cu atoms is 35.45 g. Likewise, if 1 H 2O molecule weighs 18.02
amu, 1 mol of H2O is expected to have a mass of 18.02 g.
Table 4. Mole Relationships
Calculating the molar masses of compounds and ions simply involves adding
the molar masses of the component atoms.
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The molar masses of monoatomic elements can be lifted directly
from the Periodic Table. However, for molecules, formula units and
ions, the weights of the individual atoms making up the polyatomic
units are added together, as shown in the following example:
Calculate the molar mass of glucose (C6H12O6).
The formula weight of glucose is calculated as follows:
because the formula weight and the molar mass are numerically
equal, it follows that the molar mass of glucose is 180.0 g/mol.
The molar mass can also be used to determine the mass of a sample
given the number of moles and vice versa. For example:
Calculate the mass (in grams) of 0.433 mol of Ca(NO 3)2.
164.09 g Ca(N O3 )2
0.433 mol Ca(N O3 )2 × =71.1 g Ca(N O3)2
1 mol Ca(N O3 )2
Example Problem
Calculate the molar mass for lithium carbonate, Li 2CO3, used to produce red
color in fireworks.
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Republic of the Philippines
Cebu Normal University
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines
College of Arts & Sciences
Telephone No.: (+63 32) 254 6814 local 140
Email: cnucas@[Link]
Website: [Link]
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Learning Activity #4
I. Calculate each of the following:
a. number of C atoms in 0.500 mole of C
b. number of SO2 molecules in 1.28 moles of SO2
c. moles of Fe in 5.22 x 1022 atoms of Fe
II. Calculate the molar mass of each of the following substances.
a. Na2S2O3 (sodium thiosulfate, a photographic chemical)
b. (NH2)2CO (urea, a chemical fertilizer for crops)
References
Brown, T.L. et al. (2018) Chemistry: The Central Science. 14th edn.
Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia PTE. LTD.
Timberlake, K. (2015) Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and
Biological Chemistry. 12th edn. Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia PTE.
LTD.