Chapter 2: Atoms,

Molecules & Ions

Lecturer: Dr J Moma
C508 Humphrey Raikes Building
[email protected]
2: Atoms, Molecules & Ions
3. : The Modern View of Atomic 6. : Molecules & Molecular
Structure Compounds
Molecules & Chemical Formulae
Include: Basic Forces Molecular & Empirical Formulae
Atomic Numbers, Mass Numbers * Picturing Molecules
& Isotopes
7. : Ions & Ionic Compounds
Predicting Ionic Charge
4. : Atomic Weights
Ionic Compounds
The Atomic Scale
8. : *Naming Inorganic Compounds
*Names & Formulae of Ionic
5. : The Periodic Table
Compounds
+ Know the names and symbols *Names & Formulae of Acids
of the elements, excluding the *Names & Formulae of Binary
Lanthanides & Actinides, but Molecular Compounds
including Uranium
The Modern View of the
Atomic Structure
• The atom is composed of
protons, neutrons and
electrons.
• The protons and neutrons are
contained in the NUCLEUS
which is surrounded by the
electrons in the ORBITALS.
• The nucleus is very small
compared to the size of the
atom.
• The nucleus contributes to
the atoms’ mass whereas the
electrons contribute to the
atoms’ volume.
Sub-Atomic Particles
• Protons (+1) and electrons (–1) have a charge;
neutrons are neutral.
• Protons and neutrons have essentially the same
mass (relative mass 1). The mass of an electron is
so small we ignore it (relative mass 0).

1 amu (atomic mass unit) = 1.66054 x 10-24 g

1 e (fundamental electric charge) = 1.60218 ×10−19 C
Atoms of an Element

• Atomic Number (Z): the number of protons in the

nucleus of the atom.
• Mass Number (A): the total number of protons AND
neutrons in the nucleus of the atom. Also called
“NUCLEONS”.
• In a neutral atom, the number of protons EQUAL the
number of electrons.
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Isotopes

• Isotopes: atoms of the same element with different masses.

• Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons, but the same
number of protons.
• They can be stable or unstable. Unstable isotopes emit
radiation and are called radioisotopes.
• Isotopes have the same chemical properties but slightly
different physical properties.

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Example: Determine the number of protons,
neutrons, electrons, nucleons, atomic number
and mass number in the following.

Element Symbol O Ar Fe
Protons (p+) 92
Electrons (e-) 26
Neutrons (n0)
Nucleons 40
Atomic Number (Z) 18
Mass Number (A) 238
Atomic Mass Unit (amu or u)
• Atoms have extremely small masses.
• The heaviest known atoms have a mass of
approximately 4 × 10–22 g.
• A mass scale on the atomic level is used, where an
atomic mass unit (amu or u) is the base unit.
– 1 amu = 1.66054 × 10–24 g
– 1 g = 1 amu / 1.66054 x 10 10–24 g = 6.02214 x 1023 amu
Atomic Weight
• The masses of any atom is compared to C-12
(6 protons and 6 neutrons) being exactly 12.
• Such masses are called relative atomic masses or
atomic weights. Symbol: Ar
• An average mass is found using all isotopes of an
element weighted by their relative abundances. This is
the element’s atomic weight.
• Atomic weights listed in the Periodic Table are weighted
averages of the atomic weights of the isotopes of the
elements.

Atomic Weight
= Σ[ × ]
• Accurate atomic and molecular weight can be
measured using a mass spectrometer.

• The spectrum of chlorine showing two

isotopes is seen on the right.
Abundances can also be determined
this way.
Example: Determine the relative atomic mass
of Silicon given the following information.

Three isotopes of silicon exist in nature.

28Si (92.23%) : 27.97693 amu;
29Si (4.68%) : 28.97649 amu;
30Si (3.09%) : 29.97377 amu.
Solution
The Periodic Table
• The periodic table is a systematic organization of the elements.
• Elements are arranged in order of atomic number.
• Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties.
• Boxes on the periodic table list the atomic number
ABOVE the symbol.
• The atomic weight of an element is listed below the
symbol on the periodic table.
s block
p block
d block
f block
main group elements
transition elements
inner transition elements
Periodicity
• When one looks at the chemical properties of
elements, one notices a repeating pattern of
properties and reactivity.
Columns in the periodic table are called groups
(numbered from 1A to 8A or 1 to 18).
Chalcogens Noble gases
Alkali metals Halogens
Alkaline earth metals
Chemical Formulae

• The subscript to the right of the

symbol of an element tells the
number of atoms of that element in
one molecule of the compound.
• Molecular compounds are
composed of molecules and almost
always contain only nonmetals.
• Noble gases exist as monoatomic
species: He, Ar, Kr, etc.
Diatomic Molecules
Molecular & Empirical
Formulae
• Empirical formulas give the lowest whole-number
ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
• Molecular formulas give the exact number of
atoms of each element in a compound.
• If we know the molecular formula of a compound,
we can determine its empirical formula. The
converse is not true without more information!
• If a species exists as well-defined discrete molecules,
then we use the molecular and not the empirical
formula.

• For many compounds, the empirical and molecular

formulae are identical:
NH3 N2O5 H2SO4 …..
Picturing Molecules

• Structural formulas show the order in which atoms

are attached. They do NOT depict the three-
dimensional shape of molecules.
• Perspective drawings, ball-and-stick models,
and space-filling models show the three-
dimensional order of the atoms in a compound.
Ions

• When an atom or a group of atoms loses or gains

electrons, it becomes an ion.
• Cations are formed when at least one electron
is lost. Monatomic cations are formed by metals.
• Anions are formed when at least one electron is
gained. Monatomic anions are formed by
nonmetals, except the noble gases.
Common Cations
Common Anions
Polyatomic Ions
• Sometimes a group of atoms will gain or lose
electrons. These are polyatomic ions.
• A polyatomic cation:
– Ammonium ≡ NH4+
• A polyatomic anion:
– Sulfate ≡ SO42–
Ionic Compounds
• Ionic compounds (such as NaCl) are generally
formed between metals and nonmetals.
• Electrons are transferred from the metal to the
nonmetal. The oppositely charged ions attract each
other. Only empirical formulas are written.
• Many chemical compounds do not consist of
discrete molecules, but of ions bound together by
coulombic attraction in a crystal lattice.
• Ionic compounds tend to have high melting and
boiling points because the Coloumbic interaction
between the ions is very strong
Writing Formulae

• Because compounds are electrically neutral, one can

determine the formula of a compound this way:
– The charge on the cation becomes the subscript on the
anion.
– The charge on the anion becomes the subscript on the
cation.
– If these subscripts are not in the lowest whole-number
ratio, divide them by the greatest common factor.
Inorganic Nomenclature
• Write the name of the cation. If the cation can have
more than one possible charge, write the charge as
a Roman numeral in parentheses. If it is a
polyatomic cation, it will end in -ium.
• If the anion is an element, change its ending to
-ide; if the anion is a polyatomic ion, simply write
the name of the polyatomic ion.

− − −
+ − 2−
4 4 −
Oxyanions
• When there are two oxyanions involving the same element
– the one with fewer oxygens ends in -ite.
– the one with more oxygens ends in -ate.
• NO2− : nitrite; NO3− : nitrate
• SO32− : sulfite; SO42− : sulfate
• Central atoms on the second row have a bond to, at most,
three oxygens; those on the third row take up to four.
• Charges increase as you go from right to left.
• The one with the second fewest oxygens ends in -ite: ClO2–
is chlorite.
• The one with the second most oxygens ends in -ate: ClO3–
is chlorate.
• The one with the fewest oxygens has the prefix hypo- and
ends in -ite: ClO– is hypochlorite.
• The one with the most oxygens has the prefix per- and ends
in -ate: ClO4– is perchlorate.
Acid Nomenclature
• If the anion in the acid
ends in -ide, change the
ending to -ic acid and
add the prefix hydro-.
– HCl: hydrochloric acid
– HBr: hydrobromic acid
– HI: hydroiodic acid

• If the anion ends in -ite, change the ending to -ous acid.

– HClO: hypochlorous acid
– HClO2: chlorous acid
• If the anion ends in -ate, change the ending to -ic acid.
– HClO3: chloric acid
– HClO4: perchloric acid
Nomenclature of
Binary Molecular Compounds
• The name of the element
farther to the left in the periodic
table (closer to the metals) or
lower in the same group is
usually written first.
• A prefix is used to denote the
number of atoms of each
element in the compound
(mono- is not used on the first
element listed, however).
• The ending on the second element is changed to
-ide.
– CO2: carbon dioxide
– CCl4: carbon tetrachloride
• If the prefix ends with a or o and the name of the
element begins with a vowel, the two successive
vowels are often elided into one.
– N2O5: dinitrogen pentoxide
– CO: carbon monoxide
Example: Give the names/formula of the
following
Name Formula
2 3
Dinitrogen pentoxide
Ammonium phosphate
( 3 )2
Perbromic acid
Calcium hypochlorite

( 3)2
Having studied this chapter, you should be
able to:
 Describe the modern view of atomic structure including isotopes,
atomic numbers and mass numbers.
 Describe the periodic table and give the names and symbols of
the elements.

 Interpret the meaning of chemical formulas and pictures of

molecules.
 Predict charges on ions of metals and nonmetals and understand
the formulas of ionic compounds.
 Give the names and formulas of inorganic compounds, acids and
binary molecular compounds.