SCIENCE NOTES
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Class: 8 Subject: Chemistry
Sec: Date:
Structure of an atom:
An atom is made up of 3 particles; protons, neutrons and electrons. Protons are positively charged,
neutrons are not charged and electrons are negatively charged. Protons and neutrons are in center.
Distribution of electrons in different orbits (energy levels/shells)
The distribution of electrons in the various orbits of the atom of an element is known as electronic
configuration of the element.
1. The maximum number of electrons which can be accommodated in a particular energy level of
an atom is given by 2n2. Here ‘n’ is the number of the energy level.
a) In the first energy level or K-shell (n=1)
Maximum no. of electrons = 2n2 = 2 x (1)2 = 2
b) In the second energy level or L-shell (n=2)
Maximum no. of electrons = 2n2 = 2 x (2)2 = 8
c) In the third energy level or M-shell (n=3) Maximum
no. of electrons = 2n2 = 2 x (3)2 =18
Starting from the nucleus of the atom, the order of energy of these energy levels/shells is
K<L<M<N<O…. i.e., the K shell is having the least energy since it is very near to the nucleus.
2. The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the outermost orbit is 8.
3. Shells are filled in a step-wise manner. Electrons are not accommodated in a given shell, unless the
inner shells are filled.
4. Any atom that has 8 electrons (octet) in its outermost shell is found to be stable and inert. It
does not take part in chemical reactions.
Page 1 of 4
Sub-Atomic particles
The three main sub-atomic particles are electron, proton and neutron. The nucleus is the central
core of the atom. It occupies a very small space, but it accounts for 99.9% of the mass of the
atom. Protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus.
• Protons, which are positively charged particles is found in the nucleus. A proton has a mass
of one atomic mass unit or 1 amu. All protons are identical, no matter which element they
are found in. Protons and nucleus were discovered by E. Rutherford.
• Neutrons, are neutral. All neutrons are identical. Although the mass of a neutron is
slightly more than a proton, its mass is still considered to be 1 amu. Neutrons were
discovered by J. Chadwick.
• Electrons are negatively charged particles arranged in energy levels around the nucleus.
They have a mass of 1/1836 amu. Each energy level / shell within an atom can hold a limited
number of electrons. The chemical properties of any atom depend on the number of
electrons in its valence shell (outermost shell).
Electrons can move from one energy level to another. When they gain/absorb energy it moves
to the next higher level, it is said to be excited. Similarly, when they lose energy, they move to
the lower energy level.
The number of protons in an atom is equal to the number of electrons, and the whole atom is neutral.
Atomic number (Z)
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element is called the atomic number of an
element. The atomic number of an element never changes.
Atomic number (Z) = Number of protons / Number of electrons
Page 2 of 4
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Element Number Number Number Mass Electronic
(neutral atom) Symbol of of of Number configuration
Protons Neutrons Electrons [A] Valency
[Z] K L M
HYDROGEN H 1 0 1 1 1 1
HELIUM He 2 2 2 4 2 0
LITHIUM Li 3 4 3 7 2 1 1
BERYLLIUM Be 4 5 4 9 2 2 2
BORON B 5 6 5 11 2 3 3
CARBON C 6 6 6 12 2 4 4
NITROGEN N 7 7 7 14 2 5 3
OXYGEN O 8 8 8 16 2 6 2
FLUORINE F 9 10 9 19 2 7 1
NEON Ne 10 10 10 20 2 8 0
SODIUM Na 11 12 11 23 2 8 1 1
MAGNESIUM Mg 12 12 12 24 2 8 2 2
ALUMINIUM Al 13 14 13 27 2 8 3 3
SILICON Si 14 14 14 28 2 8 4 4
PHOSPHORUS P 15 16 15 31 2 8 5 3,5
SULPHUR S 16 16 16 32 2 8 6 2
CHLORINE Cl 17 18 17 35 2 8 7 1
ARGON Ar 18 22 18 40 2 8 8 0
Page 3 of 4
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. What is the relation between the atomic number, mass number and number of neutrons
of an atom?
2. The atomic number of an element is 8. Is it a metal or a non-metal?
3. Draw the atomic structure of sodium atom and sodium ion. Which is more stable and why? Atomic
no. of Na = 11 and mass no. = 12.
4. Why is an atom electrically neutral?
5. An ion M2+ contains 10 electrons and 12 neutrons. What is the atomic number and mass number of
the element, M? Identify the element.
6. Out of L and M shells, which has more energy?
Page 4 of 4
