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Chemistry 101
Chapter 11
Modern Atomic Theory
Electromagnetic radiation: energy can be transmitted from one place to another by light- more properly called electromagnetic radiation. Many kinds of electromagnetic radiation exist: X rays, microwaves, radio waves, and so on).
Note: Electromagnetic radiation travels as waves. A particular wave is characterized by three properties: wavelength, frequency, and speed.
Wavelength ( λ “lambda”): is the distance between two consecutive wave peaks:
Frequency ( ν “nu”): indicates how many wave peaks pass a certain point per given time period. There is a connection between wavelength and frequency:
λ = c: speed of light 3.0×10^8 m/s
Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional. If the distance between peaks of a wave is increased, the frequency will be decreased and visa versa.
Speed: indicates how fast a given peak travels. The unit of speed is m/s.
Note: Sometimes, light doesn’t behave as though it were a wave. That is, electromagnetic radiation can sometimes have properties that are characteristic of particles. Another way to think of a beam of light traveling through space, then, is as a stream of tiny packet of energy called photons.
Note: Different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation carry different amounts of energy. For example, the photons that correspond to red light carry less energy than the photons that correspond to blue light. In general, the longer the wavelength of light, the lower the energy of its photons.
c ν
Emission of energy by atoms: when atoms receive energy from some source (such as the heat from the flame), they become excited and they can release this energy by emitting light. The emitted energy is carried away by a photon.
Note: Only certain types of photons are produced from the emission of energy by atoms. Therefore, only certain energy changes are occurring. This means that atoms must have certain discrete energy levels (Principle energy levels). We say the energy levels are quantized. That is, only certain values are allowed.
The Bohr model: he said that electrons move around the nucleus in circular orbits like planets orbiting the sun.
The wave mechanical model: electrons do not move around the nucleus in circular orbits like planets orbiting the sun. Electrons move randomly; however, there is more chance to find them close to nucleus. Electron acts as a wave.
Principal energy levels : atoms have certain discrete energy levels. The energy levels contain orbitals of the same number (E1, E2, E3 and so on).
Ground state (E1) : the lowest energy level.
Sublevels : levels are divided into sublevels (s, p, d, f).
Orbital : a region of space around a nucleus that can hold a maximum of two electrons.
Note : two electrons in an orbital spin in opposite directions. A spinning electron generates a tiny magnetic field. When their tiny magnetic fields are aligned N-S, the electron spins are paired (paired spins).
Note: sublevels “s” are spherical. However, sublevels “p” consist of two lobes. The label x, y, or z on a given p-orbital tells along which axis the lobes of that orbital are directed:
Electron Configuration: a description of the orbitals of an atom or ion occupied by electrons.
Orbital Box Diagrams: we use box to represent an orbital, an arrow with head up to represent a single electron (a pair of arrows with heads in opposite directions to represent two electrons with paired spins).
Noble gas notation : we use symbol of the noble gas immediately preceding the particular atom to indicate the electron configuration of all filled levels.
F (9): 1s^2 2s^2 2p^5 [He] 2s^2 2p^5
Mg (12): 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 [Ne] 3s^2
Valence level : the outermost principle energy level of an atom (its outside level).
Valence electrons : the electrons in the outermost (highest) principle energy level of an atom.
Lewis dot structure : the symbol of the element surrounded by a number of dots equal to the number of electrons in the valence level of an atom of that element.
Orbital box diagrammes
H (1)
1s
1s
He (2)
1s
1s^2
Li (3)
1s 2s
1s^2 2s^1
C (6)
1s 2s 2px 2py 2pz
Electron configuration
1s^2 2s^2 2p^2
1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 8A
Note : the noble gases have filled valence levels (8 electrons). Note : for the main-group elements, the number of valence electrons is equal to the number of their groups. Note : all main-group elements have in common the fact that either their s or p-orbitals are being filled (for transition elements d-orbitals and for inner transition elements f-orbitals are being filled).
Core electrons: the inner electrons. These electrons are located in inside levels.
Note: Only valance electrons are involved when atoms attach to each other (form bonds). However, core electrons are not involved in bonding atoms to each other. That is why the elements located in the same group, have the same chemical and physical properties (for main group elements). Because they have the same number of valance electrons.
Atomic Size : the size of an atom is determined by the size of its outermost occupied orbital. The simplest way to determine the size of an atom is to determine the distance between atoms in a sample of the element.
Note : the atomic size increases from up to down in a column and from right to left across a row.
Ion : an atom with an unequal number of protons and electrons (in the normal conditions, an atom is neutral). Na + energy → Li+^ (ion) + e-
