Chemistry

A. Particles in an Atom
Particle

Symbol

Relative mass

Relative charge

Proton

+1

Neutron

Electron

1/1800

-1

B. The proton number and nucleon number

The proton number of an element is the number of protons in its atom. (Which are equal to the number of electrons)

The nucleon number of an element is the total number of protons and neutrons in its atom.
Nucleon number
Proton number

A
Z

Symbol of element

C. The electronic structure of an atom

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The protons and neutrons are held, tightly packed together, in the centre of the atom that is called the nucleus.
The number of particles (protons and neutrons) in the nucleus is called the nucleon number and this is
equal to the mass number of the element.
The electrons in the outermost shell of an atom are called valence electrons.
These have great significance in determining the chemical properties of an atom.
The equation used is 2n2 = 8, n is the shell number

The first shell can hold up to two electrons (a duplet).

The second shell can hold up to eight electrons (an octet).
The third shell can hold up to eighteen electrons.

Intensive SPM Seminar 2015

Brickfields Asia College

Edunation