The Periodic Table and Atomic

Structure
Chapter 6
(pages 140 176)

Learning Objectives
After mastering this unit you will be able to:
Use the periodic table to determine the number of
protons, electrons, and valence electrons of atoms
and ions
Write electronic configurations for atoms and ions
of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and main
group elements
Relate the effective nuclear charge (Zeff) to the
radius, ionization energy, and electron affinity of
neutral atoms and ions
Rank elements and ions according to atomic size,
ionization energy, and electron affinity
2

Atomic Structure

Particle

Charge

Mass (u)

Proton

+1

1.0073

Neutron

1.0087

Electron

-1

0.0005486

u is an atomic mass unit and is equal to 1/12 mass of 12C

Electrons are the most important particle for a chemist
(determine reactivity)

Notation
The symbolic representation of an element
E with mass number A and atomic
number Z:
Mass Number
(# protons + # neutrons)

Symbol for the Element

Atomic Number
(# protons)

s-block

The periodic table

d-block

p-block

f-block

In the periodic table, the number on top of the

atomic symbol represents the number of
protons
6

Carbon has six protons

C
14

Silicon has fourteen protons

Si
6

The periodic table

Neutral carbon atoms have six protons
and six electrons.
C+ ions have six protons and five
electrons.
C- ions have six protons and seven
electrons.

The periodic table

Columns in the periodic table are called groups.
Rows in the periodic table are called periods.

Periodic Table of Elements

Simple atomic model

The equation used to determine the
maximum number of electrons in a particular
orbit (#e-n):
#e-n= 2n2 (where n = 1,2,3,...)

10

1
1

1
1
1

2
2
2

2 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

3
3
3

4
4

5
5

6
6

7
7

8
8

2
8

3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

These elements go in here

3

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

11

Niels Bohr
Proposed an atomic model in
which electrons orbit around
the nucleus in perfectly defined
orbits.

"for his services in the investigation of the structure of

atoms and of the radiation emanating from them"
12

Bohr Model

Electrons travel in perfectly

defined orbits around the
nucleus.
Energy is quantized (discrete).
Excellent at predicting energy
of one electron species.

13

Subshells
Each orbit has a subshell composed of a given
number of electrons:
Subshell
s
p
d
f

#e2
6
10
14

14

Shell (n) Sub-shells

Max. # e- in subshells

2(1)2 = 2

s, p

2+6=8

2(2)2 = 8

s, p, d

2 + 6 + 10 = 18

2(3)2 = 18

s, p, d, f

2 + 6 + 10 + 14 = 32

2(4)2 = 32

15

Valence Electrons
Definition:
The number of electrons in the s and p
subshells of the occupied electronic shell
with the largest n for the neutral element.
This shell is termed the valence shell.
Valence electrons are involved in the
formation of bonds.

16

Valence electrons for neutral elements

1

EXCEPTION

17

Electronic configurations

s-block

Atoms or ions can be identified by their

characteristic arrangement of electrons within
the subshells.

d-block

p-block

f-block
18

Writing electronic configurations

Hydrogen (neutral) 1 electron in total.

1s1
One electron is in the 1st orbit in the s-subshell.

19

Writing electronic configurations

Helium (neutral) 2 electrons in total.

1s2
Two electrons are in the 1st orbit in the ssubshell.

20

Writing electronic configurations

Lithium (neutral) 3 electrons in total.

1s2 2s1
Two electrons are in the 1st orbit in the ssubshell and one electron is in the 2nd orbit in
the s-subshell.

21

Writing electronic configurations

Boron (neutral) 5 electrons in total.

1s2 2s2 2p1

Two electrons are in the 1st orbit in the ssubshell, two electrons are in the 2nd orbit in the
s-subshell and one electron is in the 2nd orbit in
the p-subshell.

22

Short Notation
1. Identify the noble gas preceding the element
of interest (ex. for P the previous noble gas is
Ne) and write its symbol in square brackets
2. Write the electronic configuration following
that of the noble gas identified in step 1 (ex.
for P is 3s2 3p3
P : 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3 or
P : [Ne] 3s2 3p3
23

Orbital diagram notation

An orbital diagram notation is another way to
write electronic configurations. A solid
horizontal line represents each subshell.
Electrons are represented by arrows.

Hydrogen

1s

24

Orbital diagram notation (s-subshell)

In an s-subshell one electron is represented by
an up-arrow (spin up) and the other electron is
represented by a down arrow (spin down).
Helium

1s

25

Orbital diagram notation (p-subshell)

There are three types of p-subshells (px, py, and
pz). Each type of subshell can hold up to two
electrons. Electrons are left unpaired if possible.
Nitrogen

1s

2s

2px

2py

2pz

1s

2s

2px

2py

2pz
26

Magnetism
Atoms or ions with unpaired electrons are
magnetically active (they respond to changes in
the magnetic field). These atoms are called
paramagnetic. Atoms with no unpaired
electrons are called diamagnetic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiXQKAwoRLY
27

Periodic Properties

Effective nuclear charge (Zeff)

Atomic radius
Ionization energy
Electron affinity

28

Effective nuclear charge

Coulombs Law

29

Zeff
Rough estimate of Zeff:
Zeff ~ Z S

Zeff ~ 5 2 = 3

(Boron)
30

Zeff experimental vs. Zeff approximated

Atom

Zeff

Estimated Zeff
(Z-S)

Be

1.91

2.42

3.14

3.83

4.45

5.10

Ne

5.76

8
31

Atomic Radius
H

Internuclear distance
Internuclear distance
2

Atomic Radius
Atomic radius is calculated by measuring the
internuclear distance and dividing by 2
32

Atomic Radius (across a period)

Element
Li
Be
B
C
N
O
F
Ne

Radius ()
1.28
0.96
0.84
0.76
0.71
0.66
0.57
n/a
33

Atomic radius (down a group)

Element
Li
Na
K
Rb
Cs
Fr

Radius ()*
1.28
1.66
2.03
2.20
2.44
n/a

34

35

36

Isoelectronic species
Atoms and ions with the same number of
electrons are said to be isoelectronic. In a set of
isoelectronic species, the atom or ion with the
largest atomic or ionic radii is the most negative
atom.
K+

Ar

Cl-

Increasing Atomic or Ionic Radius

37

Ionization Energy (IE)

The energy required to remove a single
electron from an atom or ion in its gaseous
state. Ionization energies are measured in
the gas phase.

38

Ionization Energy
Element
Li
Be
B
C
N
O
F
Ne

IE1 (kJ/mol)
520.2
899.4
800.6
1086.1
1402
1314
1681
2081
39

Ionization Energy

Element
Li
Na
K
Rb
Cs
Fr

IE1 (kJ/mol)
520.2
495.8
418.8
403.0
375.7
~375
40

41

Electron Affinity (EA)

The energy change that results from the
addition of a single electron to an atom or
ion in its gaseous state. Electron affinities
are measured in the gas phase.

42

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