CHAPTER - 3 Atoms and Molecules

CONCEPT DETAILS
KEY CONCEPTS : [ *rating as per the significance of concept]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Laws of Chemical Combination

John Daltons Atomic Theory
Atoms, ions & Chemical Formula
Mole Concept
Molar Mass & Avogadro constant

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Pre requisites

Basic knowledge all states of matter.

Difference in the different states of matter .
SURVEY ANALYSIS
Conceptual levels of comprehension on the basis of feedback taken from the students

120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
Very Difficult

20%

Difficult

0%

Easy

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1.Laws of Chemical Combination

Law of Conservation of mass:

Law of definite proportion:

proposed by the French chemist

Antoine Lavoisier (1774)

proposed by Louis Proust

(1799)

Mass can neither be

created nor destroyed in a
chemical reaction.
OR
For any chemical process in
a closed system, the mass
of the reactants must be
equal the mass of the
products.

irrespective of the method

of preparation or the
source from where it is
taken'.

One molecule of a compound

water always contains same ratio
of Hydrogen and Oxygen by mass
i.e.

C + O2 = CO2
12g +32g

'A chemical compound

always consists of the
same elements combined
together in the same ratio,

= 44g

H2O = 2 : 16 = 1 : 8

Verification of Law of Conservation of mass

A solution of sodium chloride and silver nitrate are taken separately in the two limbs
of an 'H' shaped tube. The tube is sealed and weighed precisely. The two reactants
are made to react by inverting the tube. The following reaction takes place.
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl (aq) AgCl (s) + NaNO3 (aq)
The whole tube is kept undisturbed for sometime so that the reaction is complete.
When the tube is weighed again it is observed that:
Weight before the reaction = Weight after the reaction
Limitation of Law of definite proportion
This law does not hold good when the compound is obtained by using different
isotopes of the combining elements .

Q.1 Why chemical reactions are in accordance with the Law of conservation of mass?
Q.2 Calculate the ratio of atoms present in 5 g of magnesium and 5 g of iron.
[Atomic mass of Mg=24 u, Fe=56 u]

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2. John Daltons Atomic Theory

[ for postulates ,refer NCERT text book article 3.1.2 -page no.32 ]

Using his theory, Dalton rationalized the various laws of chemical combination which were in
existence at that time. However, he assumed that the simplest compound of two elements
must be binary.
Q.1 In what respect does Daltons Atomic theory hold good even today?
Q.2 Which of the following is not the postulate of Daltons Atomic theory of matter ?
a) Each element is made up of extremely small particles called atoms.
b) Atoms of a given element are identical in chemical properties but have different
physical properties.
c) Atoms cannot be created nor destroyed.
d) Compounds are formed by the chemical union of atoms of two or more elements in
fixed proportion .

3. Atoms ,Molecules, Ions & Chemical Formula

Atom

Molecule

An atom is the smallest particle of

an element which can take part in a
chemical reaction. It may or may
not exist freely.

The smallest particle of matter

(element or compound) which can
exist in a free state.

Each atom of an element shows all

the properties of the element.

The properties of a substance are

the properties of its molecules.

MOLECULES OF ELEMENT : The molecules of an element are constituted by the same

type of atoms.
MOLECULES OF COMPOUND: Atoms of different elements join together in definite
proportions to form molecules of compounds.(hetero atomic molecules)
ATOMICITY : The number of atoms contained in a molecule of a substance (element or

compound) is called its atomicity.

Element
Ozone
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Oxygen

Formula
O3
P4
S8
O2
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Atomicity
3
4
8
2

 Based upon atomicity molecules can be classified as follows.

Monoatomic molecules: Noble gases helium, neon and argon exist as He Ne and Ar
respectively.
Diatomic molecules: H2 , O2, N2,Cl2, CO , HCl .
Triatomic molecules: O3 ,CO2 , NO2.
SYMBOLS

The abbreviation used to represent an element is generally the first letter in

capital of the English name of element.
Oxygen O

Nitrogen N

When the names of two or more elements begin with the same initial letter,
the initial letter followed by the letter appearing later in the name is used to
symbolize the element
Barium Ba

Bismuth Bi

Symbols of some elements are derived from their Latin names

ELEMENT

LATIN NAME

SYMBOL

Sodium

Natrium

Na

Copper

Cuprum

Cu

Potassium

Kalium

Iron

Ferrum

Fe

Mercury

Hydragyrum

Hg

Tungsten

Wolfram

Q.1 Give one example each of molecule of element & molecule of compound.
Q.2 How does an atom differ from molecule ?
Q.3 Name a triatomic gas.
Q.4 Name the element represented by Hg , Pb, Au.
Q.5 What is the difference between an atom of hydrogen and a molecule of hydrogen?

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ION

Cation

An ion is a charged particle

formed by loss or gain loss or
gain of electrons.

Anion
__

Formed by
loss of
electron

Formed by
gain of
electron

Polyatomic Ion : A group of atoms carrying a charge is as polyatomic ion.

eg:

NH4+ - Ammonium Ion ;

CO32- - Carbonate ion

Valency : The number of electrons which an atom can lose , gain or share to form a bond.
OR
It is the combining capacity of an atom of the element.
[ for valency of various cations & anions ,refer NCERT text book table 3.6 , page no. 37 ]
Chemical Formula: A chemical formula is a short method of representing chemical
elements and compounds.

Writing a Chemical Formula -CRISS-CROSS rule

RULE 1 [a]

write the correct symbols of two elements.

Ex : Aluminium & Oxygen

[ b]

Al O

above each symbol, write the correct valence

Al3+ O2-

[c]

Criss-cross the valence and drop the algebraic sign.

Al2O3

RULE 2 >

When the subscript is number 1, subscript is not written.

- Na1+ Cl1- --- NaCl

Ex. Sodium Chloride

RULE 3>

When the valence of both elements are numerically equal , the subscripts are
also not written.

- Ca2+ O2- --- CaO

Ex. Calcium Oxide-

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RULE 4 >
When there are multiple numbers of an individual polyatomic ion ,
parentheses must be used to separate the polyatomic ion from the subscirpt.

- NH41+ SO42

Ex. Ammonium Sulphate-

RULE 5 >

-.......

(NH4)2 SO4

All subscripts must be reduced to lowest term (except for molecular or

covalent copound).
Ex. Tin (IV) Chloride ~
Sn4+O2------ SnO2

EXAMPLES
CATION
Al 3+
Ca
NH4 +
Na +
Mg2+
Na+

ANION
SO42
HCO3
Cl
CO32
OH
PO43

FORMULA
Al2(SO4)3
Ca(HCO3)2
NH4Cl
Na2CO3
Mg(OH)2
Na3PO4

NAME
Aluminium sulphate
Calcium bicarbonate
Ammonium chloride
Sodium carbonate
Magnesium hydroxide
Sodium phosphate

Q.1 What is the difference between an anion & cation ?

Q.2 Write down chemical formula of
i) Hydrogen peroxide
ii) Tin chloride
iii) Barium sulphate
iv) Silver chloride
Q.3 Write chemical names of
i) Ni(NO3)2
ii) CdCO3
iii) NaOH

iv) NH4NO2

4. Mole Concept

The mole (mol) is the amount of a substance that contains as many elementary entities as
there are atoms in exactly 12.00 grams of 12C
The Avogadro constant is named after the early nineteenth century Italian scientist
Amedeo Avogadro.

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I MOLE 6.O22 x 10 23 particles

Substance

>

Element

Compound

Particles

>

Atom

Molecule

Ex. >

ELEMENT - SODIUM - Na

I MOLE > 23 u / 23g / 6.O22 x 10 23 atoms of sodium

Ex. >

COMPOUND- WATER - H2O

I MOLE > 18 u / 18 g / 6.O22 x 10 23 molecules of water

S.No.

1.
2.
3.

Symbol /
formula of atom
/ molecule
O
N2
HCl

Atomic /
molecular mass
( u)
16 u
28 u
36.5 u

1mole
( in g)
16 g
28 g
36.5 g

Avogadro no.

6.022 x 1023 atoms

6.022 x 1023 molecules
6.022 x 1023 molecules

Molar mass
( g mol -1)
16 g mol -1
28 g mol -1
36.5 g mol -1

GRAM MOLECULAR MASS

Gram molecular mass is the mass in grams of one mole of a molecular substance.
Ex: The molecular mass of N2 is 28, so the gram molecular mass of N2 is 28 g.

ATOMIC MASS UNIT

An atomic mass unit or amu is one twelfth of the mass of an unbound atom of carbon-12. It
is a unit of mass used to express atomic masses and molecular masses.
Also Known As: Unified Atomic Mass Unit (u).

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MOLECULAR MASS : A number equal to the sum of the atomic masses of the atoms in a
molecule. The molecular mass gives the mass of a molecule relative to that of the 12C atom,
which is taken to have a mass of 12.
Examples: The molecular mass of C2H6 is approximately 30 or [(2 x 12) + (6 x 1)] . Therefore
the molecule is about 2.5 times as heavy as the 12C atom or about the same mass as the NO
atom with a molecular mass of 30 or (14+16) .

Q.1 What term is used to represent the mass of 1 mole molecules of a substance?
Q.2 What is the gram atomic mass of i) Hydrogen ii) oxygen ?
Q.3 Calculate molar mass of C2H2 .

5.Molar Mass & Avogadro Constant

Ex: i) Convert 35 g of Al into mol.

MASS

A:

Molarmass / 1mol

1mol / Molar mass

Molar mass of Al= 27 g

27 g = 1mol
1mol
= 35 g x ------27 g
= 1.3 mol of Al

ii) How many grams of SiO2 are

present in 0.8 mol ?
A:

Molar mass of SiO2 = 60.1 g

1 mol = 60.1 g
60.1g of SiO2
= 0.8 mol of SiO2 x ---------1mol of SiO2

MOLE

= 48.1 g SiO2

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MOLE

Ex . How many mol of CO2 are

present in 55.5 L ?
A: 22.4 L = 1mol

1mol / 22.4 L

22.4 L / 1mol

1mol
= 55.5 L x ----22.4 L
= 2.48 mol of CO2.

VOLUME AT STP

Ex Calculate number of molecules

in 200 g of N2O.
Molar mass of N2O = 44 g

MOLE

i ) to find number of moles:44 g = 1 mol

1mol / 6.02 X 10 23
particles
6.02 X 10 23 particles /
1mol

1mol
= 200 g x ------44.0 g
= 4.55 mol of N2O
ii) to find number of molecules
1 mol =6.02 x 1023 molecules

Number of
representative paticles

6.02 x 1023 molecules N2O

= ---------------------1/ 4.55
= 2.74 x 1024 molecules N2O

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Ex. Calculate the number of aluminium ions present in 0.051 g of aluminium oxide.
Ans : Molar mass of Al2O3 = 102 g
Al2O3 2 Al3+ + 3 O2102 g of Al2O3 contains = 2 x 6.02 x 1023 Al3+ ions

0.051 g of Al2O3 contains

2 x 6.02 x 1023 Al3+ ions

=
----------------x 0.051
102
= 2 x 6.02 x 1020 Al3+ ions

Q.1 Calculate the mass of one atom of sodium?

Q.2 The atomic mass of calcium is 40 u. What will be the number of calcium
atoms in 0.4 u of calcium?
Q.3 How many atoms of oxygen are present in 120 g of nitric acid ?

QUESTION BANK [ *HOTS ]

1 Mark Questions:
1. Who gave law of conservation of mass ?
2. What term is used to represent the mass of 1 mole molecules of a substance?
3. What name is given to the number 6.023 x 10 23 ?
4. What is molecular mass?
5. Give Latin names for sodium & mercury.
6. *How many atoms are there in exactly 12 g of carbon ?
7. Define mole.
8. Calculate formula unit mass of CaCl2. [ At. Mass : Ca = 40 u , Cl = 35.5 u ]
9. Name a diatomic gas.
10. How many atoms are present in H2SO4.

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2 Marks Questions:
1. Give the chemical symbols for the following elements: Gold, Copper , Potassium & Iron.
2. *What do the following symbols represent - i) 1 H

&

i) H2

3. Neon gas consists if single atoms , what mass of neon contain 6.022 x 10 23 atoms.
4. What elements do the following compounds contain ?
i) Water

ii) Lead nitrate

5. State the differences between an atom or a molecule.

6. Molar Mass of water is 18 g mol-1 , what is the mass of 1 mole of water? .
7. *The number of atoms in 1 mole of hydrogen is twice the number of atoms in one mole
of helium. Why?
8. Write the chemical formulas for the following:
i) Silver oxide

ii) Iron (III) sulphate

9. Calculate molar mass of H2O2 & HNO3.

10. What is the mass of 0.2 moles of oxygen molecules?

3 Marks Questions:
1. State the main postulates of John Daltons atomic theory.
2. What are polyatomic ions ? Give two examples.
3. State the following
i) Law of conservation of mass.

ii) Law of constant proportion

4. What is the mass of :

i) 1 mol of N atoms.

ii) 4 mol of Al atoms.

5. What is meant by the term atomicity ?

State the atomicity of i) Phosphorous

ii) Sulphur

5 Marks Questions:
1. i) What is molecular formula ? State with example what information can be derived from a
molecular formula .
ii) Write the names of the compounds represented by the following formulas:
a) Mg(NO3)2

b) K2SO4

c )Ca3N2
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2.* i) What is gram molecular mass?

ii) Write the formulas & names of the compounds formed between :
a) Ferrous and sulphide ions

b) Aluminium and sulphate ions

c) Potassium and chlorate ions

d) Barium and chloride ions

3. i) Calculate the number of moles for the following:

a) 52 g of He

b) 17 g of H2O

ii) How many molecules are present in 34 g of ammonia ?

iii) Calculate the mass of 0.5 mole of sugar (C12H22O11).

You are expected to know

Laws of Chemical combination.
John Daltons imagination about atom & the limitation of his theory.
Difference between an atom & molecule.
Types of ions
Writing chemical formula of compounds.
Relationship between Mole , Molar Mass & Avogadro Constant
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