Atomic

STRUCTURE

Module 1

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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INTRODUCTION

• All matter is made of atoms; and all atoms

consist of electrons, protons, and neutrons.

• In this module, you will learn about the

structure of the atom, electron orbits and
shells, valence electrons, ions, and two semi
conductive materials - silicon and germanium.

• Semi conductive material is important because

the configuration of certain electrons in an atom
is the key factor in determining how a given
material conducts electrical current.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
College of Engineering Module 1 Version 2007-08-2nd
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 Atomic
STRUCTURE
Module 1

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, the learners

should be able to:

✏ Discuss the basic structure of atoms

1. Define nucleus, proton, neutron, and

electron.
2. Describe an element’s atomic number.
3. Explain electron shells.
4. Describe a valence electron.
5. Describe ionization.
6. Describe a free electron.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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ATOMIC STRUCTURE

• An atom is the smallest particle of an element

that retains the characteristics of that element.

• Each of the known 109 elements has atoms that

are different from the atoms of all other
elements.

✏ This gives each element a unique atomic

structure.

• According to the classical Bohr model, atoms

have a planetary type of structure that consists
of a central nucleus surrounded by orbiting
electrons.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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 Illustration

The Bohr model of an atom showing electrons in

orbits around the nucleus, which consists of protons
and neutrons. The “tails” on the electrons indicate
motion.

• The nucleus consists of positively charged

particles called protons and uncharged particles
called neutrons.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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 • The basic particles of negative charge are called
electrons.

• Each type of atom has a certain number of

electrons and protons that distinguishes it from
the atoms of all the other elements.

Examples

1. Hydrogen – is the simplest atom and has

one proton and one
electron.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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 Hydrogen atom

2. Helium atom - has two protons and

two neutrons in the
nucleus and two
electrons orbiting the
nucleus.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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 Page 8 of 19
ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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Atomic Number

• All elements are arranged in the periodic table

of the elements in order according to their
atomic number.

✏ The atomic number equals the number of

protons in the nucleus, which is the same as the number
of electrons in an electrically balanced (neutral) atom.

✏ For example,

1. hydrogen has an atomic number of 1

2. helium has an atomic number of 2.

✏ In their normal (or neutral) state, all atoms

of a given element have the same number of
electrons as protons; the positive charges
cancel the negative charges, and the atom
has a net charge of zero.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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Electron Shells and Orbits

• Electrons orbit the nucleus of an atom at certain

distances from the nucleus.

• Electrons near the nucleus have less energy than

those in more distant orbits.

• It is known that only discrete (separate and

distinct) values of electron energies exist within
atomic structures, therefore, electrons must orbit
only at discrete distances from the nucleus.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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Energy Levels

• Each discrete distance (orbit) from the nucleus

corresponds to a certain energy level.

• In an atom, the orbits are grouped into energy

bands known as shells.

• A given atom has a fixed number of shells.

• Each shell has a fixed maximum number of

electrons at permissible energy levels (orbits).

• The differences in energy levels within a shell

are much smaller than the difference between
shells.

• The shells are designated 1, 2, 3, and so on,

with 1 being closest to the nucleus.

• Some references designate shells by the letters

K, L, M, and so on.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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The energy band concept

Energy increases as the distance from the nucleus increases.

✏ The figure above shows:

• the 1st shell with one energy level

• the 2nd shell with two energy levels.
• Additional shells may exist in other
types of atoms, depending on the
element.
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 Page 13 of 19
ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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Valence electrons

• Electrons that are in orbits farther from the

nucleus have higher energy and are less tightly
bound to the atom than those closer to the
nucleus.

✏ This is because the force of attraction

between the positively charged nucleus
and the negatively charged electron
decreases with increasing distance from
the nucleus.

• Electrons with the highest energy exist in the

outermost shell of an atom and are relatively
loosely bound to the atom, this outermost shell
is known as the VALENCE shell and electrons
in this shell are called VALENCE
ELECTRONS.

• These valence electrons contribute to chemical

reactions and bonding within the structure of a
material and determine its electrical properties.
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Ionization

• When an atom absorbs energy from a heat

source or from light, for example, the energies
of the electrons are raised.

• The valence electrons possess more energy and

are more loosely bound to the atom than inner
electrons, so they can easily jump to higher
orbits within the valence shell when external
energy is absorbed.

• If a valence electron acquires a sufficient

amount of energy, it can actually escape from
the outer shell and the atom’s influence.

• The departure of a valence electron leaves a

previously neutral atom with an excess of
positive charge (more protons than electrons).

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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• The process of losing a valence electron is known
as IONIZATION, and the resulting positively
charged atom is called a POSITIVE ION.

✏ For example, the chemical symbol for

hydrogen is H. when a neutral hydrogen
atom loses its valence electron and becomes
a positive ion, it is designated H+.

• The escaped valence electron is called a FREE

ELECTRON.

• When a free electron loses energy and falls into the

outer shell of a neutral hydrogen atom, the atom
becomes negatively charged (more electrons than
protons) and is called a NEGATIVE ION,
designated H-.

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The number of electrons in each shell

• The maximum number of electrons (Ne) that

can exist in each shell of an atom is a fact of
nature and can be calculated by formula,

Ne = 2n2

n is the number of shell.

the innermost shell is number 1,

the next shell is number 2,
and so on.

✏ The maximum number of electrons that can

exist in the innermost shell (shell 1) is

Ne = 2n2 = 2(1)2 = 2

✏ The maximum number of electrons that can

exist in the second shell is

Ne = 2n2 = 2(2)2 = 2(4) = 8

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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 ✏ The maximum number of electrons that can
exist in the third shell is

Ne = 2n2 = 2(3)2 = 18

✏ The maximum number of electrons that can

exist in the fourth shell is

Ne = 2n2 = 2(4)2 = 32

• All shells in a given atom must be completely filled

with electrons except the outer (valence) shell.

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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Mastery Exercises

1. Describe an atom.

2. What is an electron?

3. What is a valence electron?

4. What is a free electron?

5. How are ions formed?

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ELDECIR Atomic Structure
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