OLIVAREZ COLLEGE

DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

The Structure of Atom, Atomic Number,

Mass Number and Isotopes
I. OUTCOMES OF LEARNING

1. Explain the basic laws of matter (law of conservation of mass, law of constant composition, law
of multiple proportion).
2. Identify the main points of Dalton's atomic theory
3. Determine the atomic number, mass number, and isotopes.
4. Review basic concepts of atomic structure
5. Describe the basic structure of the atom and be able to define the following terms: nucleus,
energy level, isotope, and ion
6. Determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom if you know its atomic
number, atomic mass, and overall charge.

II. LESSON PRESENTATION

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Democritus during the fifth century B.C. proposed that all matter consists
of very small, indivisible particles, which he named atomos (meaning uncuttable
or indivisible). Although many opposed the belief of Democritus about atom
particularly Plato and Aristotle it still endured. In 1808 John Dalton an English
scientist and Teacher, formulated a precise definition of the indivisible building
blocks of matter called atom.
Dalton’s hypotheses about the nature of matter on which the Dalton’s
atomic theory is based can be summarized as follows.

John Dalton (1766 - 1844)

1. Everything is composed of atoms, which are the indivisible building blocks of matter and cannot be
destroyed.
On the basis of Dalton’s atomic theory, we can define an atom as the basic unit of an element that can
enter into chemical combination. Dalton imagined an atom that was both extremely small and indivisible.
Dalton hypothesized that the law of conservation of mass and the law of definite proportions could be
explained using the idea of atoms.
2. All atoms of an element are identical.
Dalton proposed that every single atom of an element, such as gold, is as the same as every atom of that
element, such as gold, is the same as every other atom of that element.
3. The atoms of different elements vary in size and mass.
4. Compounds are produced through different whole-number combinations of atoms.
5. A chemical reaction results in the rearrangement of atoms in the reactant and product compounds.

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

Laws of Matter

Law of Conservation of Mass

The Law of Conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor
destroyed during a chemical change. Since no atoms are lost or made during a
chemical reaction , the total mass of the substance produce must be equal to the
total mass of the substance reacted. Example the synthesis reaction between
magnesium and chlorine to produce magnesium chloride as shown below.

Mg + Cl2 → MgCl2
Mass of Reactant Mass of Product
24.30 g Mg + 70.90 g Cl2 = 95.2 g 95.2 g
Antoine Lavoisier (1743 – 1794)

Law of Definite Composition

Joseph Louis Proust a French chemist best known for his discovery of the Law of
constant composition in 1794 which states that different samples of the same
compound always contain its constituent elements in the same proportion
by mass. For example if we are to gather different sample of water from different
sources, we would find in each sample the same ratio by mass of hydrogen and
oxygen (2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom.) with that we can conclude that if
the ratio of the masses of different elements in a given compound is fixed, the ratio
of the atoms of these elements in the compound also must be constant.
Joseph Louis Proust

Law of Multiple Proportions

The Law of Multiple Proportions states that if two elements can
combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element
that combine with a fixed mass of the other element are in ratios of
small whole numbers. For example, carbon and oxygen combine to form
two different stable compounds—carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
In forming carbon monoxide 12.01 grams of carbon combined with
15.99 grams of oxygen while in forming carbon dioxide 12.01 grams of
carbon combined with 31.98 grams of oxygen. The ratio of the masses
of oxygen that combines with the same amoun of carbon is 15.99:31.98 Ratio of oxygen in carbon monoxide to
or simply 1:2, a ratio of small whole numbes. Take note that the law of oxygen in carbon dioxide.

multiple proportions was established before these gases were named as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

Atomic Structure

Based on Dalton’s atomic theory, we can define an atom as the basic unit of an element that can go through
chemical reaction. Dalton picture atom as both extremely small and indivisible. Still, a series of investigations that
started in the 1850s up to the twentieth century clearly shows that atoms actually have internal structure; that atoms
are actually made up of even smaller particles, which are called subatomic particles. This study led to the discovery of
three such particles—electrons, protons, and neutrons.

Proton
and
Neutron

Energy
Level

Structure of an atom: Elements, such as helium, depicted here, are made up of atoms. Atoms are made
up of protons and neutrons located within the nucleus, with electrons in orbitals surrounding the nucleus.
Electrons

 Negatively charged subatomic particles. Represented as e-

 In 1897, the English physicist J. J. Thomson (1856–1940) discovered the electron. Thomson performed
experiments that involved passing electric current through gases at low pressure.
o He sealed the gases in glass tubes fitted at both ends with metal disks called electrodes.
o The electrodes were connected to a source of electricity.

 One electrode, the anode became positively charged.

 The other electrode, the cathode, became negatively charged.
 The result was a glowing beam, or cathode ray, that traveled
from the cathode to the anode.
 Thomson found that a cathode ray is deflected by electrically
charged metal plates (A positively charged plate attracts the cathode
ray, while a negatively charged plate repels it.)
 Thompson knew that opposite charges attract and like charges
repel, so he hypothesized that a cathode ray is a stream of tiny
negatively charged particles moving at high speed.
 Thompson called these particles corpuscles, Later they were
named electrons.

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

charge 1.6022  1019 C

mass of an electron = = = 9.10  1028 g
charge / mass 1.76  108 C/g

Protons

 In 1886, Eugen Goldstein (1850–1930) observed a cathode-ray tube and found rays traveling in the direction
opposite to that of the cathode rays.
 He concluded that they were composed of positive particles.
 Such positively charged subatomic particles are called protons and represented as p+
Neutrons

 In 1932, the English physicist James Chadwick (1891–1974) confirmed the existence of yet another subatomic
particle: the neutron.
 Neutrons are subatomic particles with no charge but with a mass nearly equal to that of a proton.
Represented as n 0

Atomic Number and Mass Number

Atoms of can be identified by the number of protons (p+) and neutrons (n0) they have. The number of protons
determines an element’s atomic number (Z) and distinguishes one element from another. Neutral atoms of an
element contain an equal number of protons and electrons. The identity of an atom can be determined solely from its
atomic number. For example, carbon’s atomic number (Z) is 6. This mean that each carbon atom has 6 protons and 6
electrons. Or, we can view it as every atom in the universe that contain 6 protons is correctly named as “carbon”.
An element’s mass number (A) is the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons. The small
contribution of mass from electrons is disregarded in calculating the mass number. This approximation of mass can be
used to easily calculate how many neutrons an element has by simply subtracting the number of protons from the
mass number. Protons and neutrons both weigh about one atomic mass unit or amu.

Z = p+ = e-
Mass Number
Symbol of A = p + + n0
Element
n0 = A - Z
Atomic Number

The number of neutrons in an atom is equal to the difference between the mass number and the atomic
number, or (A - Z). For example, if the mass number of a particular boron atom is 11 and the atomic number is 5
(indicating 5 protons in the nucleus), then the number of neutrons is 11 - 5 = 6. Remember that all three quantities
(atomic number, number of neutrons, and mass number) must be positive integers, or whole numbers.

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

Isotopes

Most elements have two (2) or more isotopes. Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of protons
but different numbers of neutrons or atoms that have the same atomic number but different mass number. One
example is hydrogen which has three isotopes. One is simply known as hydrogen it has one proton and no neutrons.
The deuterium isotope contains one proton and one neutron, and tritium has one proton and two neutrons. Thus, for
the isotopes of hydrogen, we write
1 2 3
1H 1H 1H
Another example, take a look at two common isotopes of uranium with mass numbers of 235 and 238,
respectively:
235 238
92U 92U
The first isotope of uranium is used in nuclear reactors and atomic bombs, whereas the second isotope of
uranium lacks the properties necessary for these applications. With the exception of hydrogen, which has different
names for each of its isotopes, isotopes of other elements are identified by their mass numbers. Thus, the two uranium
isotopes are called uranium-235 (pronounced “uranium two thirty-five”) and uranium-238 (pronounced “uranium two
thirty-eight”).
The chemical properties of an element are determined mostly by the protons and electrons in its atoms;
neutrons do not take part in chemical changes under normal conditions. Therefore, isotopes of the same element have
similar properties, forming the same types of compounds and displaying similar reactivities.

III. INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Which among Dalton’s atomic theories may no longer hold true today? Explain

2. How does the atomic theory explain the fundamental laws of chemistry?

3. Use the helium-4 isotope to define atomic number and mass number. Why does a knowledge of atomic
number enable us to deduce the number of electrons present in an atom?

4. Why do all atoms of an element have the same atomic number, although they may have different mass
numbers?

5. What do we call atoms of the same elements with different mass numbers?

6. Explain the meaning of each term in the symbol

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

IV. VALUES REFLECTION

By selecting from the different subatomic particles, which subatomic particles do you think can describe
your personality? Explain your answer.

V. ACTIVITY ENGAGEMENT

I. Directions: Summarizes the properties of the subatomic particles using the table below
Relative mass
Particle Symbol Relative Charge Actual mass (g)
(mass of proton = 1)
Electron 1. 2. 3. 4.

Proton 5. 6. 7. 8.

Neutron 9. 10. 11. 12.

II. Directions: Explain the following questions.

1. Why do all atoms of an element have the same atomic number although they have different mass numbers?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Explain which of the following symbols provide more information about the atom: 11Na or 23Na?

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Determine the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of each atom for the Noble gases (Group 8A elements).
Describe the general trend of the ratio of neutrons to protons in the nucleus of each atom as the atomic number
increases.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1
4. Explain the radioactive behavior of the elements and the types radiation they emit.

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5. Write the appropriate symbol for each of the following isotopes? (where A = atomic number, Z = mass number)

a. Z = 74, A = 186

b. Z = 28, A = 64

c. Z = 80, A = 201

d. Z = 74, A = 184

7. Identify from item #5 which are isotopes of the same element.

III. Directions: Fill in the table below with the necessary information.

Element Protons Neutrons Electrons

Be 1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 22

Nb 7. 8. 9.

10. 109 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 9

He 16. 17. 18.

19. 20. 159 103

Po 21. 22. 23.

Sb 24. 25. 26.

27. 19 28. 29.

Ca 30. 31. 32.

Fr 33. 34. 35.

36. 37. 0 38.

Kr 39. 40. 41.

42. 43. 44. 57

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

VI. RESEARCH EXPLORATION

Directions: Writing a response. Analyze this research abstract and cite its implication on by focusing on the
following questions. To download the You may download the full paper of this research on the website given below.

Bhaskar Jha. (n.d.). A critical study about the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika theory of atomism. In IJRAR-International Journal of

ABSTRACT. British scientist John Dalton is familiar to us as he had developed the atomic theory in modern times. But
actually Indian sage Kanada formulated the atomic theory far before. It is known to us that the Vaiśeṣikas have
admitted nine substances- earth, water, fire, air, ether, space, time, spirit and mind. Among these nine substances
ether, space, time and soul or spirit are regarded as eternal and all-pervading. Mind is also regarded as eternal, but it
is atomic. Other four substances may have two forms- eternal and non-eternal. The atoms of these four substances
are eternal, but the compound objects are non-eternal. Vaiśeṣikas say that all compound objects have parts. They have
origination as well as destruction. Compound objects are produced by the conjunction of atoms and when the
conjunction is disturbed, compound objects are destroyed. Here some important questions may be raised: How the
partless atoms are combined? Whether the atoms are enough to create the varieties of objects of the world, or some
external power is necessary to do the same? In the present paper I shall explain the above problems from the
NyāyaVaiśeṣikas’ standpoint. In this connection, the opinions of some other schools of Indian philosophy have also
explained here. (https://ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_2007.pdf)

1. How is the atomic theory of John Dalton related to Vaiśeṣikas?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Would you recommend the research paper to others, and why?

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

VII. INTEGRATION PROCESS AND SYNTHESIS

 Dalton postulated that each element has a characteristics type of atom that differs in properties from atoms
of different elements can combine in fixed, small, whole-number ratios to form compounds. Samples of a
particular compound all have the same elemental proportions by mass. When two elements form different
compounds, a given mass of one element will combine with masses of the other element in a small, whole-
number ratio. During any chemical change, atoms are neither created nor destroyed.

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1
 Dalton’s atomic theory: set of postulates that established the fundamental properties of atoms
 Law of constant composition: (also, law of definite proportions) all samples of a pure compound contain
the same elements in the same proportions by mass.
 Law of definite proportions: (also law of constant composition) all samples of a pure compound contain
the same elements in the same proportions by mass.
 Law of multiple proportions: when two elements react to form than one compound, a fixed mass of one
element will react with masses of the other element in ratio of small whole numbers.
 Atom: The smallest possible amount of matter which still retains its identity as a chemical element, consisting
of a nucleus surrounded by electrons
 Electron: negatively charged, subatomic particle of relatively low mass located outside the nucleus.
 Proton: Positively charged subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom and determining the
atomic number of an element. It weighs 1 amu.
 Neutron: A subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom. It has no charge. It is equal in mass
to a proton or it weighs 1 amu.
 Isotopes: atoms that contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
 Nucleus: massive, positively charged center of an atom
 Neutral atoms of each element contain an equal number of protons and electrons.
 The number of neutrons is variable, resulting in isotopes, which are different forms of the same atom that
vary only in the number of neutrons they possess.
 Since an element’s isotopes have slightly different mass numbers, the atomic mass is calculated by obtaining
the mean of the mass numbers for its isotopes.
 mass number: The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons in an atom.
 atomic number: The number of protons in an atom.
 atomic mass: The average mass of an atom, taking into account all its naturally occurring isotopes.

VIII. ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE:
Directions: Read the questions below and shade the circle that corresponds to the correct answer.
1. Which phrase best describes atoms?
o Single-celled organism
o Smallest basic units of matter
o Parts of a nucleus
o Positively charged particles

2. The majority of the mass of an atom comes from which subatomic particles?
o Protons
o Neutrons + Protons
o Protons + Electrons
o Neutrons + Electrons

3. Which of the following experiments led to the discovery of the electron?

o The cathode ray tube experiment
o The oil-drop experiment
o The gold foil experiment
o The plum pudding experiment

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1
4. Which of the following statements cannot be explained by Dalton’s Postulates?
o H2O and H2O2 are two different compounds.
o The nucleus consists of protons
o The atoms of carbon and nitrogen have different properties.
o Magnesium burns in the presence of oxygen in air to produce magnesium oxide.

5. The discovery of the neutron was credited to which scientist?

o Bohr
o Chadwick
o Roentgen
o Rutherford

6. When cupric oxide decomposes, the total mass of copper and oxygen formed was equal to the mass of the
copper oxide that decomposed. This is explained by which of the following laws?
o Law of Conservation of Mass
o Law of Constant Composition
o Law of Definite Proportion
o Law of Multiple Proportions

7. What is the total number of protons in a nucleus of magnesium-23?

o 23
o 11
o 12
o 16

8. An atom with 29 protons and 36 neutrons is an isotope of ____________.

o Si
o Cu
o Kr
o Cl

9. Isotopes of a given element contain _______________________________.

o Same number of neutrons but different number of protons
o Same number of neutrons and protons
o Same number of protons but a different number of neutrons
o Same number of protons but a different number of electrons

10. An atom of an element is electrically neutral because the __________________________.

o Number of protons equals the number of electrons
o Number of protons equals the number of neutrons
o Number of neutrons equals the number of electrons
o Number of neutrons, protons and electrons are equal.

II. Fill in the Box:

Directions: Complete the table below by filling-in the missing data.

Element Atomic Mass Number of Number of Number of Isotopic

Name Number Number protons neutrons Electrons Notation

oxygen 1. 17 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 15 31 7. 8. 9. 10.

11. 38 12. 13. 50 14. 15.

neon 16. 20 17. 18. 19. 20.

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS
 OLIVAREZ COLLEGE
DR. PABLO R. OLIVAREZ – SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STEM 004: GENERAL CHEMISTRY
Module No. 2.1

IX. NETWORK LINKS, DIGITAL SOURCES AND REFERENCES

5.1: The Law of Conservation of Matter. (2014, July 18). Chemistry LibreTexts.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Book%3A_The_Basics_of_GOB_Chemistry_

(Ball_et_al.)/05%3A_Introduction_to_Chemical_Reactions/5.1%3A_The_Law_of_Conservation_of_Matter

2.2 Fundamental Chemical Laws. (2014, July 2). Chemistry LibreTexts.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/General_Chemistry/Map%3A_Chemistry_(Zumdahl_and_Decoste)/0

2%3A_Atoms_Molecules_and_Ions/2.02_Fundamental_Chemical_Laws

BASIC CONCEPTS. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14, 2020, from

https://personal.utdallas.edu/~scortes/ochem/OChem1_Lecture/Class_Materials/02_atomic_structure.pdf

Bhaskar Jha. (n.d.). A critical study about the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika theory of atomism. In IJRAR-International Journal of

Research and Analytical Reviews. https://ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_2007.pdf

Dalton’s atomic theory. (2017). Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry/electronic-

structure-of-atoms/history-of-atomic-structure/a/daltons-atomic-theory-version-2

Foundation, C.-12. (n.d.). Law of Conservation of Mass. Www.Ck12.Org. Retrieved July 22, 2020, from

https://www.ck12.org/chemistry/law-of-conservation-of-mass/lesson/Conservation-of-Mass-MS-PS/

Law of Constant Composition | Chemistry. (n.d.). AnkPlanet. Retrieved July 22, 2020, from

https://ankplanet.weebly.com/law-of-constant-composition.html

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LESSON 2: ATOMS, MOLECULES, and IONS