UNIT 2. The atom.

Periodic table and bonding

THE ATOM

 Timeline of the atomic models:

 Subatomic particles:

Nucleus Electron shell

PROTON NEUTRON ELECTRON
Mass (kg) 1,673·10-27 1,675·10-27 9,1·10-31

Charge (C) +1,6·10-19 0 -1,6·10-19

- The atom is neutral because the number of electrons is equal to the number of
protons.

- Since electrons do not contribute significantly to the atomic mass of an element, its
global mass is calculated by the mass of protons and neutrons alone.

 The atomic number (Z) identifies the elements. Atoms of the same element
contain the same number of protons. This number cannot change.
 The mass number (A) is the number of particles in the nucleus, the sum of
protons and neutrons. A = Z + N
 If the atom loses one or more electrons, it becomes an ion with a positive
charge. It’s a cation.
 If an atom gains one or more electrons, it becomes an ion with a negative
charge. It’s an anion.

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 UNIT 2. The atom. Periodic table and bonding

 Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons, but different
number of neutrons are called isotopes.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1. Say if it’s true (T) or false (F) and rewrite the wrong sentences:
a) If an atom is neutral, that is, its total charge is zero, the number of protons is equal
to the number of neutrons.
b) If an atom is neutral, that is, its total charge is zero, the number of protons is equal
to the number of electrons.
c) We can find electrons in the nucleus of an atom.
d) The mass of an electron is greater than the mass of a neutron.
e) The charge of a neutron is equal to the charge of an electron.

Activity 2. Which particles are in the nucleus? And in the shell?

Activity 3. The first scientist who developed an atomic model similar to a “plum
pudding” was ...
a. John Dalton b. James Chadwick c. Lord Kelvin
d. J. J. Thomson e. Ernest Rutherford

Activity 4. The scientist whose alpha particle scattering experiment led him to
conclude that the nucleus of an atom contains a dense centre of positive charge is ...
a. John Dalton b. James Chadwick c. Lord Kelvin
d. J. J. Thomson e. Ernest Rutherford

Activity 5. Choose the best option. The charge of an electron is:

a) Bigger than proton’s charge.
b) Smaller than proton’s charge.
c) The same as the proton’s charge.

Activity 6. Choose the best option. The mass of an electron is:

a) Bigger than the mass of a proton.
b) Smaller than the mass of a proton.
c) The same as the mass of a proton.

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 UNIT 2. The atom. Periodic table and bonding

Activity 7. Choose the best option. The mass of a neutron is:

a) Bigger than the mass of a proton.
b) Smaller than the mass of a proton.
c) The same as the mass of a proton.

Activity 8. Fill in the blanks with the following words (some words are used more
than once):
pieces bigger located equal uncuttable
basic levels empty positively further
uncharged cloud mass dense neutral
The atom is a .............................. unit of matter that consists of a ..............................
central nucleus surrounded by a .............................. of negatively charged particles.

The atomic nucleus contains a mix of .............................. charged particles (protons)

and .............................. particles (neutrons).

The nucleus contains almost all the ……………. of the atom because the ……...…… of
protons and neutrons is …………….…. than the electrons mass. The atom is almost
………….…… because the electrons of an atom are .............................. to the nucleus.

An atom containing an .............................. number of protons and electrons is

electrically ……………....

The word atom means .............................., or indivisible, something that cannot be

divided in smaller ...............................

Electrons in the atom are not .............................. in a specific place, they are
occupying what is called energy ............................... The .............................. the
distance to the nucleus, the bigger the energy level.

Activity 9. Find the electron configuration of the following elements and represent it
for Nitrogen and Chlorine:
a) Nitrogen, 7 electrons e) Strontium, 38 electrons
b) Chlorine, 17 electrons f) Magnesium, 12 electrons
c) Arsenic, 33 electrons g) Beryllium, 4 electrons
d) Iodine, 53 electrons h) Titanium, 22 electrons

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 UNIT 2. The atom. Periodic table and bonding

Activity 10. A certain atom contains 28 protons, 28 electrons and 31 neutrons. Its
atomic number is ............................... Its mass number is ............................... The
name of the element is ..............................

Activity 11. The atoms that have lost electrons are called .............................. and the
ones that have gained electrons are called ..............................

Activity 12. Why can not an atom be identified by its number of electrons or
neutrons?

Activity 13. Match both columns and write the complete sentences:

A Proton 1 Uncharged subatomic particle

Electrically charged particle formed when an atom

B Atom 2
has lost electrons

C Anion 3 The positively charges particles of atom

Atomic The external part of an atom

D 4
number
Atoms of the same element with different numbers
E Electron 5
of neutrons

F Ion 6 Where an electron is likely to be found in an atom

G Nucleus 7 The smallest part of an element that can exist

H Orbital 8 It has more electrons than protons

I Neutron 9 Number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

J Shell 10 The negatively charged particles of an atom

K Cation 11 No neutral atom

L Isotopes 12 The positive central part of an atom

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 UNIT 2. The atom. Periodic table and bonding

THE ATOM

The atom has _____________ ,

______________ and _____________
located in two different parts:
_____________ and the ___________
______________.

In the nucleus are the In the electron _________ are

___________________ and the the ________________ .
___________________ .

The protons are The ___________ The electrons are

_____________ charged. have no charge. __________________ charged and

their ___________ is negligible*.

The number of protons in The mass of protons is the

an atom is the _________ ____________ as the mass
When an atom gains or loses
________________. of neutrons.
electrons it becomes an
_________ .

The __________ __________ is the

sum of the protons and neutrons in If an atom gains one or If an atom loses one or
an atom. more electrons, its charge more electrons, its charge
is _______________ and is _______________ and
it is an _____________ . it is an _____________ .

* very very small,

almost uncontable
 UNIT 2. The atom, Periodic table and bonding
Crossword
13 12

15

14

10 9

16 8 5

3 4

11

HORITZONTAL VERTICAL
1. Model of ... 2. Particle discovered by Thomson

3. Electrical charge of the protons

4. These atoms are ...

6. Particle whose mass is similar to

that of the proton

5. Pure substance made up by different atoms

7. Without charge 9. The model represented in

8. The central part of the atom the figure is called ... model
11. External part of the atom

13. Number represented by 10. A cation is a positively ...

the letter A ion
14. Number of protons in an atom 12.

16. Scientist who proposed

a model called "The layer model" 15. Uncuttable for the Greek