Atoms
Atoms derived from the Greek, namely atomos (a = not, tomos =
divided). Literally, the atom can be defined as the smallest particles of
matter that can not be divided again.Atom can also be interpreted as the
smallest particle of an element that still has the properties of these
elements.
Atom has a very small size. Atomic structure consisting of electrons,
protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are particles that make up
atomic nuclei (nucleons). Electrons are particles that surrounds the nucleus
in their courses.
Thinking about atoms have existed since the 4th century BCE. Some
scientists who express opinions about the atom is Leucippus, Democritus,
Aristotle, John Dalton, JJ Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, Niels Bohr, James
Chadwick, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrodinger.Scientific ideas about
the atom, initially proposed by John Dalton at the year 1808.
According to Dalton:
♥ Each element consists of the smallest particles called atoms.
♣ Atom can not be created or destroyed through chemical reactions.
♠ Atom of the same element have the same properties and mass.
♦ Atoms of different elements have different properties and mass.
Atoms are so small. Diameter of about 0.1 nanometers or 0.1 x 10-9 meters.
Mass of an atom is expressed in a special unit called atomic mass unit
(amu).
1 amu = 1.6 x 10-24
grams
a. Subatomic Particles
♪ Proton
• Protons are positively charged subatomic particles.
• The charge is +1, in proportion to +1602 x 10-19 coulomb.
• Proton is denoted by the letter p.
• The mass of a proton is 1 amu.
♪ Neutron
• Neutrons are subatomic particles that uncharged (neutral).
~1~
• Neutrons are denoted by the letter n.
• The mass of a neutron is 1 amu.
♪ Elektron
• Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles.
• The charge is -1, comparable to -1602 x 10-19 coulomb.
• Electrons are denoted with the letter e.
• The mass of an electron is 1 / 1840 amu.
b. Atomic Number
The atomic number is a number that indicates the number of protons in
an atom. Atom of an element have different atomic numbers of atoms of
other elements.
The number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom is always the
same. So, in addition to showing the number of protons, atomic number also
indicates the number of electrons in atoms.
Example: Hydrogen atom has an atomic number one, meaning all hydrogen
atoms have 1 proton and 1 electron.
atomic number = number of protons = number
of electrons
c. Mass Number
The mass number is a number that indicates the sum of protons and
neutrons in an atom.
mass number = number of protons + number
of neutrons
d. Atomic Symbol
The number of protons, electrons, and neutrons in an atom can be
expressed with the symbols as follows.
Description:
X = atomic symbol
Z = atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons
A = mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons
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The development of atomic models can be seen in the following figures :
Dalton's Atomic Model J. J. Thomson's Atomic Model
Atom is described as a very small solid ball Atoms consist of a positively
charged material and the surface
electrons scattered like raisins in
Rutherford's Atomic Model Niels Bohr’s Atomic Model
Atomic nucleus composed of positively Atom consists of positively charged nucleus
charged atoms and electrons moving around surrounded by negatively charged electrons
in an orbit.Elektron can move from one track
to another track by absorbing or emitting energy.
~3~
Modern Atomic Model (Wave Mechanics)
Electrons do not move on a certain path and right path
of the electrons can not be determined exactly. There are
areas within the atom in which electrons there. This area
is called the electron cloud or orbital.
The example of atomic
structure
1.The structure of carbon atoms
2.The strcture of hydrogen atoms
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3.The structure of nitrogen atoms
4.The structure of oxygen atoms
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