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Atomic Structure Notes

The document discusses key concepts related to atoms and molecules including definitions of terms like atom, element, isotope, and ion. It explains how atoms bond to form molecules or ionic compounds to achieve stable electron configurations, often by gaining or losing electrons. Common elements and their properties are also presented in a table.

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Aditya Kulshreshth
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38 views

Atomic Structure Notes

The document discusses key concepts related to atoms and molecules including definitions of terms like atom, element, isotope, and ion. It explains how atoms bond to form molecules or ionic compounds to achieve stable electron configurations, often by gaining or losing electrons. Common elements and their properties are also presented in a table.

Uploaded by

Aditya Kulshreshth
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Atoms and Molecules

Class 8

Important Terms:
Atom: The smallest unit of matter that can exist independently and retain all
the properties of its element.
Protons: The positively charged subatomic particles present in the nucleus of
the atom.
Neutron: The neutral sub atomic particles present with protons inside the
nucleus of an atom.
Electrons: The negatively charged subatomic particles present in atom outside
the nucleus, in electronic shells.
Element: The pure substance that comprises of same type of atoms and
cannot be broken down into any simpler substances by chemical processes.
Atomic number: Total number of protons present in the nucleus of the atom
of an element is the atomic number of an element. No two elements can have
same atomic number.
Atomic mass: The sum of the total neutrons and protons present in the
nucleus of an atom is its atomic mass.
Electronic configuration: Arrangement of electrons in the different shells of an
atom.
Valence shell: The last shell of an atom
Valence electrons: The electrons present in the valence shell
Octet configuration: 8 electrons in the shell
Valency: Number of electrons lost, gained or shared by an atom from its last
shell to have octet configuration.
Molecule: The smallest unit of an element or a compound comprising of two
or more like or different atoms. Molecule of an element has all the same atoms
whereas the molecule of a compound has atoms of different elements.

Compound: A pure substance formed when two more different elements


combine chemically. It has a fixed composition and its properties different
from its constituents. Its smallest unit is a molecule.
Ion: The charged species formed due to loss or gain of electron in atom.
Cation: The positively charged ion formed when an atom loses electron from
its valence shell.
Anion: The negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains electrons.
Ionic compound: The compound formed due to exchange of electrons
between a metal and a non metal.
Atom is Neutral:
In an atom number of protons, are always equal to number of electrons. So the
positive charge is equal to negative charge. Hence the atom is always neutral.
Why do atoms combine?
Atoms combine to gain octet configuration in valence shell as that is the most
stable configuration. This is done by losing, gaining or sharing of electrons by
the atoms.
Distributing electrons in shells and Writing electronic configuration:
a. First shell is K, second is L, third is M and fourth is N
b. Electrons should be filled in each shell to its maximum capacity before
proceeding to next shell.
c. K shell can accommodate 2 electrons, L-8, M-18 and N-32. This can be
calculated using formula 2n2 where ‘n’ is the number of that shell to be
counted from the nucleus.
d. Since K is the first shell n=1. For L n=2 and for M n=3.
e. Do not place more than 8 electrons in the last shell.
f. While writing the electronic configuration of any atom write the name of
the shell first and then the number of electrons actually present in that
shell in the atom. Do the same for all the occupied shells.
Formation of ions
When an atom loses or gains electrons the number of protons and electrons
no longer remain equal. Hence the atom also doesn’t remain neutral but gains
a charge and is known as ion.
Cation: When an atom has 3 or less electrons in its last shell it loses electrons
to gain octet configuration in the valence shell. So the number of protons
become more than the number of electrons. Hence the atom becomes
positively charged. Cations are formed by metals.
Anion: When an atom has more than 4 electrons in its last shell it gains
electrons to complete its octet. Hence the negative charge in the atom
becomes more than the positive charge and it becomes negatively charged ion.
Anions are formed by non metals
Formation of ionic compounds
When a metal loses electrons to form cation, those electrons are gained by the
non metal and anion is formed. Since the two ions are oppositely charged, the
cation and anion bond due to electrostatic forces of attraction and ionic
compound is formed.
Example: Sodium has 11 electrons and electronic configuration is 2,8,1.
Chlorine has 17 electrons and electronic configuration is 2,8,7. Sodium loses 1
electron which is gained by chlorine. Na+ and Cl- ions are formed which bond to
form NaCl i.e, sodium chloride.

Criss- Cross Method for Ionic Compound Formation


 Write the symbol of the two elements combining and the valency of each
element below their symbols
 Cross multiply the symbol of one element with valency of the other element
 Thus formula of compound formed is obtained where symbol of cation is
written first followed by that of the anion. Valency of one element is written
as subscript of the other.
Examples:

a. Sodium combines with chlorine

Na Cl NaCl
1 1

b. Magnesium combines with oxygen

Mg O
MgO
2 2

c. calcium combines with fluorine

Ca F CaF2
2 1

Subscript to a symbol in a chemical formula represents the number of atoms of


that particular element in the molecule. No subscript to a symbol in a formula
means there is just one atom of that element in one molecule. A numeral
prefixed to the molecule indicates number of such molecules.
2 molecules of carbon dioxide
Na2O

2CO2
2 atoms of sodium 1 atom of oxygen
1 atom of carbon 2 atoms of oxygen

In an ionic compound, while writing the formula as well as when we name


them, the cation is followed by the anion.

Ionic compounds are good conductors

Ionic compounds release ions when in molten form or dissolved in water. Ions
when move conduct electricity in a liquid.

Some common elements are given in the table below:


Element Symbol Atomic number Valency
Hydrogen H 1 1
Helium He 2 0
Lithium Li 3 1
Beryllium Be 4 2
Boron B 5 3
Carbon C 6 4
Nitrogen N 7 3
Oxygen O 8 2
Fluorine F 9 1
Neon Ne 10 0
Sodium Na 11 1
Magnesium Mg 12 2
Aluminium Al 13 3
Silicon Si 14 4
Phosphorus P 15 3
Sulphur S 16 2
Chlorine Cl 17 1
Argon Ar 18 0
Potassium K 19 1
Calcium Ca 20 2
Iron Fe 26 2 or 3
Copper Cu 29 1 or 2
Zinc Zn 30 2

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