ACTIVITY 3

ATOMIC STRUCTURE
The atom is the smallest particle of an element that can enter into chemical reaction. Each
atom has a positively charged nucleus and several electrons that are negatively charged. The
nucleus contains protons and neutrons (intranuclear particles) and is the positive center of the
atom. The electrons occupy extranuclear spaces called Orbitals. The Atomic Number, Z, of an
element represents the number of protons inside the nucleus and is also equal to the number of
electrons revolving around the nucleus for that particular Neutral Atom. The Mass Number, A,
of an atom is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons inside the nucleus. Atoms of the
same element may have different atomic masses due to the presence of additional neutrons.
Atoms of elements with the same number atomic number but different atomic masses are called
Isotopes. An atom is designated by the nuclear notation:

where:
A
E E = is the symbol of the element
Z A = is the mass number, and
Z = is the atomic number.

The distribution of electrons in the various energy level is called the electronic
configuration of the atom. The chemical reactivity of an element is determined by the number
and characteristics of electrons in the outermost energy level (valence shell).

The orbital of an atom can be described by three quantum numbers namely: (1) Principal
quantum number, n, defines the energy of an electron; (2) Azimuthal quantum number, (l),
defines the shape of orbital; and magnetic quantum number m 1, described the orientation of the
orbital in space. Each electron in an orbital can be distinguished using the 4 th quantum number,
the spin quantum number (ms) – described the electron spin in an orbital.

Objectives
1. To determine the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons in an atom.

2. To write the electronic configuration of atoms

3. To demonstrate how quantum numbers are assigned to described the electrons in an

orbital.
Report Sheet – Activity 3 Score:_____

Name:__________________________________________________________________
Schedule:___________________Group No.: ____________Date:__________________

Atomic Structure
Procedure

1. Complete the following table for the indicated elements.

Elements No. of Valence Shell

No. of No. of
Z A proton
electro
neutron
n Electronic configuration
40
20 Ca 20 40
31

15 P 15 16
56
Fe 56 26
26
20
Ne 10 10
10

35
Cl 17 35
17

119
Sn 119 50
50
12
C 12 6
6
1
H 1 1
1

27
Al 13 14
13
14
6 C 14 6

2. Give the complete set of quantum numbers that describe the following electron/s in the
given types of orbital.

Principal Azimuthal Magnetic Spin Quantum

Orbitals Quantum Quantum Quantum Number (ms)
Number (n) Number (l) Number (ml)
1s1
3p2
4f2
2p5
3d7
 ACTIVITY 4

PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS

The periodic table of elements is one of the most important tools of chemistry. Through
its ingenious organization, the table provides concise and fundamental information not only
about every individual element, but also about general trends across all the elements. In the
Periodic Table, the chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic
numbers. The elements with similar properties are grouped as a family, where the elements have
the same number of electrons in their outermost shell; and a period where the elements have the
same number of main energy levels.
The similarities of the properties of elements are based in the atomic structure, electron
configuration and the trends in ionization energy and electron affinity.

Objectives
1. To look for trends of ionization energy and electronegativity as function of atomic
number within a period and/or a group
2. To relate properties of elements to their ionization energies and electronegativities.

A. TREND IN IONIZATION ENERGIES

Procedure
Using the values given in the table below, plot the first ionization energy of the first 20 elements
on the y-axis against the atomic number (Z) on the x-axis to show the periodic trends of the
elements. Then connect the points with a broken line. Use the graph and label the lowest and
highest points on the graph with the symbol of the elements.

Table 1
The Ionization energies (I) in kj/mol of the First 20 Elements

Z Element Symbol I1 I2 I3
1 Hydrogen H 1,312
2 Helium He 2,373 5,251
3 Lithium Li 520 7,300 11,815
4 Beryllium Be 899 1,757 14,850
5 Boron B 801 2,430 3,660
6 Carbon C 1,086 2,350 4,620
7 Nitrogen N 1,400 2,860 4,580
 8 Oxygen O 1,314 3,390 5,300
9 Fluorine F 1,680 3,370 6,050
10 Neon Ne 2,080 3,950 6,120
11 Sodium Na 495 4,560 6,900
12 Magnesium Mg 738 1,450 7,730
13 Aluminum Al 578 1,820 2,750
14 Silicon Si 786 1,580 3,230
15 Phosphorus P 1,012 1,904 2,910
16 Sulfur S 999 2,250 3,360
17 Chlorine Cl 1,251 2,297 3,820
18 Argon Ar 1,521 2,666 3,900
19 Potassium K 419 3,052 4,410
20 Calcium Ca 590 1,145 4,900

A. TREND IN IONIZATION ENERGIES

Ionization Energy, kj/mol

200

H He
Atomic number, Z
 B. TRENDS IN ELECTRONEGATIVITY/IES (EN)

Procedure
Look up the EN values of the first 20 elements of the Periodic Table. Using these values, plot
EN values on the y-axis against the atomic number (Z) on the x-axis to show the periodic trends
of the elements. Then connect the points with a broken line. Use the graph and label the lowest
and highest points on the graph with the symbol of the elements.

B. TRENDS IN ELECTRONEGATIVITY/IES (EN)

4
Electronegativity Values

0 7 1 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 0 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1 22
Atomic Number