SUMMER INSTITUTE – Module 8 – Atomic Structure
DUE by (or on) by August 23th –
***By the way we are entering the 1st week of the 3rd quarter of Regents Chemistry
4 Hours
* Connections: We have been looking at how atoms differ in mass and how they differ in compounds and how they rearrange in chemical reactions but we have not looked at the structure of an atom yet. We have been looking at the macro (large view) of atoms and their consequences in Chemistry. The idea of the mole concept that was born from the Gas Laws (Gay-Lussacs work, Avogadros work) allowed us to write chemical formulas and complete balanced chemical reactions that allowed us to predict how much of another chemical is needed to react or produce another chemical (Stiochiometry).
We now need to take a step back and look internally (Micro) at atoms so that we can understand WHY the chemical reactions occur as they do in the types of reactions we studied. Atoms of different elements have different chemical properties that allow certain types of reactions and some do not react at all. The answers to WHY is the MICRO understanding of ATOMIC Structure.
Historically, we left off in the mid 1800’s where Chemistry and stiochiometry took off when we could explain what was in GAY-Lussacs volume gas boxes using Avagadros Hypothesis. The chemical formula problems, chemical reactions, balancing and stiochiometry all came from that moment. It was only in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s did we start to have experimental proof that there are pieces (protons, neutrons, and electrons) to atoms and how these pieces differed in their number and arrangement that lead to their different chemical behavior. We know from AP BIOLOGY that Oxygen attracts and pulls electrons through the electron transport train. Why does oxygen do that? Why does it cause many metals to rust? Why doesn’t Gold Rust?
The answers to all these questions lie in the structure of each different atom that makes up different elements. *Remember that each element has its own unique atom (module 2).
Lets GET ATOMIC!!!!!!
Activity 1: SKILL : Early Models of the Atom – I
1: Please view slides 1 – 70 in the presentation below and view Atomic lecture 1 below:
2: Complete the Form below:
I have included the worksheet for notes but you are not responsible for completing it.
Atomic lecture 1:
Please go to slide 65 – and up for Earnest Ruthorfords Gold Foil Experiment not the number I say in the video!
Atomic Structure Form 1:
Activity 2: SKILL : Early Models of the Atom -II
1: Watch Atomic Structure Lecture 2 Lecture
2: Complete worksheet with your periodic table: (the side with the chart or table) – In table S they list the symbols with their names. Review with key.
3: Complete the second form.
Atomic Structure Lecture 2:
Atomic structure Form 2:
*Activity 3: SKILL :
*1: Determining the subatomic particle (protons, neutrons, and electrons) of atoms
*If you remember how to get the number of subatomic particles from the periodic table please try the worksheets below and check the key to make sure you have this easy skill mastered.
If get it please continue with the second skill. No need to complete these worksheets. But please make sure you have the skill.
*If you have forgotten how to obtain the number of subatomic particles from the reference table please watch the lectures below:
Activity 4: SKILL : Isotopes and the weighted mass problem.
1: Please view the Lecture 2.10 above from 2:28 on that introduces ISOTOPES.
2: Follow along with me using the worksheet below and the lecture below. Review with key.
Atomic Structure 3 – Isotopes 2012.pdf key
Download
Download
Connections: The mole concept gave us a way to use a mass scale (balance) to measure grams and convert to moles that we need to DO chemistry. We were able to do this because we came up with relative atomic mass, which is how 1 gas differed than another in a ratio. For instance Oxygen was 16 times more massive than Hydrogen thus O has a relative mass of 16 and H has a relative mass of 1. We use these numbers to tell us how many grams equals 1 mole in atoms (gram atomic mass) and compounds (formula mass/molecular mass). These masses we use in the periodic table are just the masses of the most common isotopes (forms) of that element. The periodic table reflects the mass number of each atom as the most common form of mass of that atom. Originally Dalton, (Modern Atomic Theory Dude) suggested that atoms differed by mass. We now know this is incorrect as ATOMs differ by proton number! In fact the same atom can have many different masses. We did not know this until we developed a tool called the mass spectrometer.
Atomic Structure Assessment 1
1: Please complete the RAT Below and place answers into the auto-reply form below:
Activity 4: SKILL : Bohr model of atom –
Connections: We now should have a firm grasp of the structure of the atom at least internally (protons and neutrons). We will study the energy changes that keep protons in a very small volume of the entire atom in nuclear chemistry at the end of the course next year. Those forces in the nucleus are the strongest in universe which lead to fission and fusion nuclear reactions. Right now and the rest of the your time with me we will discuss the energy changes in atoms and subsequently in chemical reaction by the changes in energies of electrons. We have discussed the discovery of electrons by William Thompson (It’s a corpuscle !) and how they are lost or gained to become ions but now we need to learn that their arrangement in the atom and the change of this arrangement is what creates the energy changes in a chemical reaction. We have learned that chemical reactions can be exothermic (overall energy released) or endothermic (overall energy absorbed) and we have studied that some compounds are more stable than others.
The products in the following reaction, CO2 and NO are more stable (lower in energy) than reactants, CO and NO2 thus the reaction is EXOTHERMIC as the energy is released. The extra energy of the reactants (CO and NO2 ) is released when they form the products (CO2 and NO). We have learned that the ΔH = negative value here because of the energy released or is lowered. WHY? Because of how the electrons are arranged! Chemistry in terms of energy changes deal with electrons arranged in either a stable low energy state or higher excited state.
Remember it was the electrons in C-H bonds in sugar that cell respiration uses for energy!

The first model of the atom that dealt with energy changes due to electron arrangements was Niels Bohr. His model of the atom that used principle developed from Albert Einstein and Max Plank was the start of the quantum revolution. It changes Everything!
1: Please view the lecture below with the worksheets below as I teach you the basics of the Bohr model.
2: Please read my notes below and view all demos.
This is a gas tube filled with hydrogen that electricity is being shot through. I am using a diffracting lens to separate the individual photons (spectral lines) given off by the gas when electricity is shot through it.
Every element has a unique arrangement of electrons with a unique number of protons thus each element has a unique spectral “fingerprint” that can be used to identify elements. Hydrogen has the 4 classic spectral lines!
In this demo I had the gas discharge tube off to the left and then I placed the diffracting lens off to the right of my camera so that you can see both the raw light and the individual photons that create that light. Those photons are tied to a single electron leap back to it original position!
The different energy of a photon emitted by an electron returning from its excited state to its ground state is measure in the color of the light which depends on the wavelength or frequency of the light based on the following formula:
1: Energy = h x v or E = hv
h = Planks Constant = 6.63 x 10-34 Js (Joule seconds)
v = frequency = how many waves per time period (light is an electromagnetic wave!)
Thus, higher the frequency, higher the energy = greater energy leap!!
Also the higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength which is given by this inverse relationship (like Pressure and Volume):
2: c = wavelength x frequency (v)
c = speed of light
wavelength = distance of each wave
So if the speed of light is constant if the frequency increases then the wavelength must decrease.
We can see this inverse relationship below:

Reds lower energy Blue and violet Higher
So Red photons have longer wavelengths with SMALLER frequencies while Blue’s have shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies.
In this demo I use sound as a way to visualize the relationship between wavelengths and frequencies. Sound is not a electromagnetic wave but is a transverse or mechanical wave so it behaves using the second equation.
Sunset Demo:
– This demonstrated how the different colors of light have unique energy levels. The Red/yellows have the lowest energy and the blue Violet has the highest energy. The higher energy light is getting trapped (or is scattered more) as the beaker thickens ( as the chemical reaction continues). The light shining through the beaker is made of lower energy light that can get through the thickening beaker because it scatters less. (Blue/Violet light has more energy to scatter because it has a shorter wavelength and higher frequency.
It is important to realize that the Bohr model was the first quantum model meaning that these electron energy levels were quantized meaning the can only absorb or emit exact amounts of energy thus each element can only give off a specific spectral lines.
Phosphorescence Demo :
This demonstrated that only a certain light colors have enough energy to make the glow in the dark substance glow. Only the blue light stick had high enough energy to “excite” the paper. The green and red light stick did not have enough energy.
This also demonstrates that the paper can only accept certain energies to glow. This is what I will be getting into tomorrow.
Fireworks: Where do the get the different color from?
Bohr model assessment:
1. Please complete the following and place answers into the auto-reply form:
Activity 5: SKILL : Quantum mechanical model and electron configurations
*Connections – So we have learned that electrons are arranged according to their proximity to the positive nucleus and this proximity determined the different energy levels (as well as the different number of each protons). The Bohr model was the first to arrange electrons around a nucleus and explain the spectral lines of Hydrogen and why each different element could have a different spectral footprint. Bohr was the first to make a quantized model of the atom, and with the principles discovered by Plank and Einstein, he opened the quantum mechanical age of the current model of the atom. Bohr’s initial model was not complete and it had limitations such as it could not explain the the spectral lines of other atoms besides hydrogen and that electrons DID NOT MOVE in circular motions. Bohr was considered a rock star in the scientific community because of his initial work and used that influence in his home country of Denmark to start an Institute to champion other young scientists to complete quantum mechanic model, which became our current model. We will learn more about this story but right now we need to understand that the current model of the atom organizes electrons based on standing waves!!
That is right electrons exist as waves just as light! These wave functions are where the electrons exist (still based on proximity to nucleus and thus energy levels). Bohr was initially correct in his first model but what is different is the wave behavior of electrons. Electrons still exist in shells but they do so in wave functions. Wave functions are 3 dimensional areas outside the nucleus that electrons exist. Since they are waves it impossible to know exactly where each is in the this region, which is called an orbital. We can only speak to the probability of finding an electron in a certain region because it exists as a wave. We will get into more of this later this year. What you should notice is that the word orbital was originally from Bohr’s electron planetary orbits. This gives credit to Bohr for his initial work no matter that is was not complete.
What is still true is that electrons that absorb energy STILL move away from nucleus to higher energy orbitals.
Ground State goes to Excited State
What is still true is that electrons that release energy STILL move back to orbitals closer to the nucleus.
Excited State goes to the Ground State
The difference is that electrons are arranged in distinct energy orbitals not distinct energy orbits and that the atom is still quantized! This means that it takes an exact amount of energy to makes electrons move from one place to another. This wave behavior of electrons makes it easier to understand why light (another wave) is given off when electrons move toward the nucleus.
So you are going to learn how the electrons are arranged in an atom using a notation that describes
1: Principle Energy Level (LARGE NUMBERS PREceding)- MAJOR SHELL (there are 7 of them just as there are 7 rows in the periodic table
2: Sublevel Energy Levels (s,p,d,f)- These are energy levels that exist inside of the major ones.
These are actually the different types of orbitals that have different 3 -D shapes.
3: Electron number in each Sublevel (it is a exponent above the letter)
Example: This is the electron configuration of hydrogen
1s1 = It has one electron locates in an s sublevel in the 1st major energy level.
Due your best to understand electron configurations which is the notation of how electrons are arranged outside the nucleus of an atom based on energy levels.
I promise this will make sense when I teach this in class but for right now it may not. Your work to try to understand this now will help in your complete understanding later in the year. I promise!
1: Please watch both lectures back to back and complete worksheet below and review with key:
2. Please watch electron configuration 3 lecture below ( Lecture 2.14) and complete the worksheet below. Review with the key.
Lecture 2.14 –
Electron configuration Flash – Aufbau Principle states that electrons will fill from the lowest energy levels (closest to the nucleus) first before they fill higher energy states. Use the flash below to help understand how electrons are organized in the atom using Wave Mechanics (modern model of the atom). Visualize the nucleus on the bottom of the animation.
Start with Hydrogen and go in order of atomic number using your Periodic Table.
This was a flash animation that I converted to a videothat shows electrons (arrows )in actual orbitals (boxes). Notice the orbitals go higher (in energy) as you proceed.
Electron Configuration – assessment:
1: Please complete the following question and place into the form below:
1: How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in the most abundant isotope of Fe – 60?
a) 26 , 60, 26
b) 60, 34, 60
c) 26, 34, 24
d) 26, 60, 26
e) 26, 30, 26
f) No correct Choices
2: Al+3 has how many electrons?
a) 3
b) 10
c) 13
d) 16
e) No correct choices
3: What is the average isotopic mass (to the tenths place) of an element with the following isotopes X30 (78% exists in nature) and X33 (22% exists in nature)
a) X23.4
b) X7.3
c) X30.0
d) X30.7
e) No correct choices
4: What is correct electron configuration of Tin (Sn)?
a) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s25p2
b) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105d2
c) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d2
d) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p2
e) 1s22s22p63s24s23d104p65s24d105p2
f) No correct choices
5. Which ions all have the electron configuration 1s22s22p63s23p6
a) Na+, Al+3, F -1
b) S-2 , Cl-1 , Ca+2
c) P-3 , Cl-1 , Mg+2
d) Fe+2, Cu+2, Zn+2
e) None of the above
6. Which of the following is the excited state electron configuration of Ar (Argon)?
a) 1s22s22p63s23p6
b) 1s22s12p63s23p6
c) 1s22p63s23p64s1
d) 1s22s22p53s23p6 4s1
e) None of the choices is correct
7. How many valance electrons does an element with a ground state electron configuration of 1s22s22p63s23p5 have?
a) 7
b) 5
c) 2
d) 10
e) 6
f) None of the choices is correct
For questions 8,9,10 : Given: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d6
8. How many filled principle energy levels?
a) 2
b) 1
c) 3
d) 0
9. How many occupied sublevels?
a) 7
b) 6
c) 5
d) 4
10. How many filled orbitals?
a) 13
b) 11
c) 10
d) 9
e) None of the choices is correct
11. Which of the following electron transitions represents an absorption of energy?
(only one answer)
a) 3d to 4s
b) 4f to 5d
c) 5s to 4d
d) 3p to 2s
e) None of the answers is correct.
12. Which of the following is the correct ground state orbital notation of oxygen?
Electron configuration assessment form:
The end of Module 8.