Atomic Number: 3, Atomic Symbol: Li, Mass Number: 7
Atomic Number (Z)
Number of protons in the nucleus
Mass Number (A)
Total number of protons and neutrons in the atom
Number of neutrons
A - Z
Isotopes
Atoms with the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons
Relative isotopic mass
Mass of one atom of an isotope compared to one twelfth of the mass of one atom of carbon-12
Relative atomic mass
Average mass of one atom compared to one twelfth of the mass of one atom of carbon-12
Relative molecular mass
Average mass of a molecule compared to one twelfth of the mass of one atom of carbon-12
Isotopes have similar chemical properties because they have the same electronic structure. They may have slightly varying physical properties because they have different masses.
Mass spectrometer
Can be used to determine all the isotopes present in a sample of an element and to therefore identify elements
Mass spectra for Cl2 and Br2
Cl has two isotopes Cl35 (75%) and Cl37(25%)
Br has two isotopes Br79 (50%) and Br81(50%)
Sometimes two electrons may be removed from a particle forming a 2+ ion. 24Mg2+ with a 2+ charge would have a m/z of 12
The peak with the largest m/z in a mass spectrum will be due to the complete molecule and will be equal to the Mr of the molecule. This peak is called the parent ion or molecular ion
Uses of Mass spectrometers
Identifying elements on other planets
Drug testing in sport
Quality control in pharmaceutical industry
Radioactive dating
First ionisation energy
The energy required when one mole of gaseous atoms forms one mole of gaseous ions with a single positive charge
Second ionisation energy
The energy required when one mole of gaseous ions with a single positive charge forms one mole of gaseous ions with a double positive charge
Factors affecting ionisation energy
The attraction of the nucleus
The distance of the electrons from the nucleus
Shielding of the attraction of the nucleus
The patterns in successive ionisation energies for an element give us important information about the electronic structure for that element.
The second ionisation energy of an element is always bigger than the first ionisation energy
When the first electron is removed a positive ion is formed, increasing the attraction on the remaining electrons
The first Ionisation energy of the elements shows a repeating pattern across a period, called periodicity.
Explanations for ionisation energy patterns
Why helium has the largest first ionisation energy
Why first ionisation energies decrease down a group
Why there is a general increase in first ionisation energy across a period
Why Na has a much lower first ionisation energy than Neon
Why there is a small drop from Mg to Al
n
In the first shell closest to the nucleus and has no shielding effects from inner shells
n has a bigger first ionisation energy than H
As it has one more proton
Learn carefully the explanations for these two small drops as they are different to the usual factors
Two electrons of opposite spin in the same orbital
An early model of the atom was the Bohr model (GCSE model) with electrons in spherical orbits. Early models of atomic structure predicted that atoms and ions with noble gas electron arrangements should be stable.
The A-level model
Electrons are arranged on principle energy levels numbered 1,2,3,4.. with sub energy levels labelled s, p, d and f
s holds up to 2 electrons, p holds up to 6 electrons, d holds up to 10 electrons, f holds up to 14 electrons
Orbitals represent the mathematical probabilities of finding an electron at any point within certain spatial distributions around the nucleus
Each orbital has its own approximate, three dimensional shape. It is not possible to draw the shape of orbitals precisely.
An atom fills up the sub shells in order of increasing energy (note 3d is higher in energy than 4s and so gets filled after the 4s)
For oxygen 1s2 2s2 2p4
Writing electronic structure using letters and numbers
Number of main energy level, Name of type of sub-level, Number of electrons in sub-level
Using spin diagrams
An arrow is one electron, The arrows going in the opposite direction represents the different spins of the electrons in the orbital, Box represents one orbital
s sublevels are spherical, p sublevels are shaped like dumbbells
When filling up sub levels with several orbitals, fill each orbital singly before starting to pair up the electrons
Periodic table blocks
s block element is one whose outer electron is filling a s-sub shell
Electronic structure for ions
When a positive ion is formed electrons are lost, When a negative ion is formed electrons are gained