The Atom Chapter 8 Great Idea: All of the matter around us is made of atoms, the chemical building blocks of our world
Chapter Outline The Smallest Pieces The Structure of the Atom When Matter Meets Light The Periodic Table of the Elements
The Smallest Pieces
Democritus –Cut matter to reach smallest piece –Called “the atom” or “uncuttable” –All material formed from atoms
Elements John Dalton –Father of modern atomic theory –Cannot break down elements –Elements composed of atoms Example: Water Molecule is 1 oxygen atom and 1 hydrogen atom
Are Atoms Real? Evidence for the reality of atoms –Behavior of a gas –Chemical combinations –Radioactivity –Brownian motion –X-ray crystallography –Atomic-scale microscopy
The Behavior of a Gas Bernoulli –atoms have mass & velocity and thus kinetic energy Decreasing volume increases pressure (A) Increasing temperature increases pressure (B) A B
Chemical Combinations Dalton applied law of definite proportions –Elements combine in a specific ratio of weights Ex: Water is 8 parts oxygen to 1 part hydrogen Ratio of weights is a small whole number –Ex: 12 lbs Carbon can combine with either 16 lbs or 32 lbs of oxygen Implication: some units of elements are fundamentally indivisible
Radioactivity Phosphors flash when hit by radiation 1903 demonstrated the twinkling caused by this effect
Brownian Motion Brownian motion: erratic, jiggling motion –pollen grains suspended in water Einstein: motion is random collisions of atoms –Predicted particle movement Perrin tested and confirmed Einstein’s predictions
X-ray Crystallography Developed in 1912 Demonstrates arrangement of atoms in crystals
Discovering Chemical Elements Electrolysis Mendeleev Current Periodic Table –112 elements 92 found in nature Everyday elements –Helium, carbon, aluminum, copper, gold
The Structure of the Atom
Thomson identified electron –Negatively charged –Smaller and lighter than smallest atom Atoms are NOT fundmental building blocks, but are made up of smaller more fundamental particles
The Atomic Nucleus Rutherford determined atomic structure Concluded – atom has nucleus at center surrounded by electrons Later discoveries found nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons Most particles traveled through foil Some deflected
Why the Rutherford Atom Couldn’t Work Why? –Object in circular orbit is accelerating –Accelerated electrical charge emits electromagnetic radiation –Electrons giving off energy while orbiting Result: electrons spin toward nucleus eventually atom ceases to exist Rutherford atom exists <1min
When Matter Meets Light
The Bohr Atom First working model of atom Energy levels for electrons –Specific distances from nucleus –Electrons exist with no radiation –Electrons cannot exist between allowed distances (energy levels)
Example Figure 8-7 Lowest energy level Any level above ground state Energy changes when level changes
Photons: Particles of Light Used to move electron to higher energy state Photon emitted as electron moves to lower energy state
Photons cont. Quantum leap or jump-electron disappears from original location and reappears in final location-never at positions in between Energy is equal
Energy in Bohr atom Energy required to leave ground state –Absorb photon –Heat Increases collisions
Spectroscopy Atoms emit and absorb different photons Depends on differences between energy levels Each atom has distinct set of photons Spectrum: all photons emitted by an atom –Used for identification
Spectroscopy cont. Light from gaseous atoms is spread out by passing through a prism
Spectroscopy cont. Each atom produces a unique set of lines-the atomic fingerprint
The Periodic Table of the Elements
Periodic Table of the Elements Systematizes elements Columns contain similar elements soft, silvery elements all colorless, odorless inert gases
Why the Periodic Table Works: Electron Shells Patterns mirror arrangement of electrons in shells Pauli exclusion principle First shell 2 electrons, second shell 8 etc.