Atoms and its examples

An atom is the basic unit of matter. It is the smallest particle of an element which may or may not exists
on its own. An atom is found to be divisible now a later into protons, electrons, and neutrons. Examples
includes hydrogen atom, oxygen atom.
Definition

Size of atoms
Atoms are very small particles that are smaller than anything that we can imagine. Atomic radius is
measured in nanometers.
Definition

Existence of atoms
The strongest evidence for the reality of atoms comes from scanning tunneling microscopy, studies of
Brownian motion, and by the remarkably good agreement for experimental estimates of Avogadro's
Number.
Definition

Maharshi Kanad's view of Atom

Kanad was an ancient Indian scientist to give the idea of a particle that could not be divided any further.
He called that indivisible particle Parmanu or Anu. He proposed that no human organ could sense this
indivisible particle, and that a natural impulse made one Parmanu combine with another. When two
Parmanu belonging to one class of substance combined, a dwinuka (binary molecule) was formed. This
dwinuka had properties similar to two parent Parmanu.
Kanad also suggested that it was the different combinations of Parmanu which produced different types
of substances. He also gave the idea that atoms could be combined in various ways to produce chemical
changes in presence of other factors such as heat. Back then, he used blackening of earthen pot and
ripening of fruit as examples to explain this phenomenon.
Definition

History of atoms
The idea of divisibility of atoms goes back to around 500 B.C. An Indian philosopher 'Maharishi Kanad'
was the first one who postulated that the atom is indivisible. He named these particles 'Parmanu'. Another
greek philosophers "Democritus and Leucippus" suggested that if we go on dividing matter, a time will
come that we cannot further divide. He named those particles as atoms. Antonie Lavoisier laid the
foundation of chemical sciences by giving the two important laws of chemical combination.
1. Laws of conservation of mass
2. Law of definite proportion
Definition
Molecules of Element
A molecule is the smallest part of a substance which can normally exist on its own. Atoms of the same
element combine to form a molecule of an element. A molecule is known for retaining the physical and
chemical properties of the substance.
Example

Molecules of Elements

A molecule is the fundamental building block of a substance which can normally exist on its own. When
two or more atoms of same type combine, the molecule of an element is obtained.
Examples of molecules of element are Hydrogen, Oxygen etc.
Example

Molecules of Compounds

When two or more atoms of different elements combine, the molecule of a compound is obtained.
Examples of molecules of compound are Water, Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide, Methane etc.
Definition

Difference between element and compound

A compound is made of two or more elements and it has different chemical and physical properties than
the constituent elements present in that compound.
Definition
Homoatomic molecules
The molecule contain same atoms is called as homoatomic molecules.
Example : Cl2,Br2,O22,��2,�2
Definition

Heteroatomic molecules
The molecules contain different atom is called as hetroatomic molecule.
For example : HCl, HNO33 etc.
Definition

Difference between atoms and molecules

Atoms Molecules
Smallest particle of atom Smallest particle of compound
It may or may not exist
It always exist independently
independently
It may or may not have properties of
It always possess properties of matter
matter
Atoms may be molecules due to
But molecule cannot be that atom
independent existence
An element is made up of atoms of A molecule can exists by itself and retains all the
one kind properties of the element or compounds
Examples of atoms are O, N Examples of molecules are O2,N2�2,�2
Molecules are further divided into homo-atomic and
Atoms have no further kind
hetero-atomic molecules
Law

Types of law of chemical combination

The following two laws of the chemical combination were established after many experimentations by
Lavoisier and Joseph Proust:

 Law of conservation of mass

 Law of constant proportions
 Law of multiple proportions
 Gay-lussac's law
 Avogadro's law
Law
Law of conservation of mass
the law of conservation of mass states that mass in an isolated system is neither created nor destroyed
by chemical reactions or physical transformations. According to the law of conservation of mass,
the mass of the products in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the reactants.
Law

Law of conservation of mass in experiments

Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water.
2H2+O2→2H2O2�2+�2→2�2�
Mass of reactants == 2×2+32=36g2×2+32=36�
Mass of
products== 2× mass of water=2×18=36 g2× ���� �� �����=2×18=36 �.
This show that mass is conserved in experiments.
Law

Law of constant proportions

The law of constant composition says that, in any particular chemical compound, all samples of that
compound will be made up of the same elements in the same proportion or ratio. For example, any water
molecule is always made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom in a 2 : 1 ratio.
Definition

Numerical problem on law of constant proportions

According to this law a pure sample of copper carbonate contains 51.35% copper by weight 38.91%
carbon by weight and 9.74% oxygen by weight.
Definition

Composition of water
Water is a molecule made of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. It's chemical formula is H2O�2�.
Water has a surface tension, so a little water can make drops on a surface, rather than always spreading
out to wet the surface.
Definition

History of chemical symbols

Dalton's theory was presented in New System of Chemical Philosophy (1808-1827). Since the old
chemical symbols were not fit to use in his theory, he proposed a new set of standard symbols for the
chemical elements in the first volume of his New System.
Definition

Symbols
A symbol is the shortest form that stands for the atom of a specific element. Each element is denoted by a
symbol, which is usually the first letter of its name in English or Latin. Eg. Sulphur has a symbol S.

Formula

Common list of symbols

The list of symbols is given as:

Definition

Dalton's atomic theory

According to Daltons atomic theory, all matter, whether an element, a compound or a mixture is
composed of small particles called atoms. The postulates of this theory may be stated as follows:
(i) All matter is made of very tiny particles called atoms.
(ii) Atoms are indivisible particles, which cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
(iii) Atoms of a given element are identical in mass and chemical properties.
(iv) Atoms of different elements have different masses and chemical properties.
(v) Atoms combine in the ratio of small whole numbers to form compounds.
(vi) The relative number and kinds of atoms are constant in a given compound.

Limitations of Dalton's atomic theory :

 Atoms of the same or different types have a strong tendency to combine together to form a new group
of atoms. For example, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen gases exist in nature as group of two atoms. This
indicates that the smallest unit capable of independent existence is not an atom, but a group of atoms.
 With the discovery of sub-atomic particles, e.g.,electrons, neutrons and protons, the atom can no
longer be considered indivisible.
Definition

Ions
Compounds composed of metals and nonmetals contain charged species. These charged particles or
species are known as ions. There are two types of ions: Cations and Anions. The positively charged ions
are known as cations and the negatively charged ions are known as anions. For example,
in NaCl����, the cation is Na+��+ and the anion is Cl−��−.
Definition

Cations and Anions

An atom or a group of atoms bearing an overall positive charge is known as 'Cation'.
Atom as such is neutral with equal number of protons and electrons. So when atom loses one or more
electrons, it now has more protons than electrons which imparts net positive charge to the cation. For
ex. Na+,Ca2+,NH+4��+,��2+,��4+
An atom or a group of atoms bearing an overall negative charge is known as 'Anion'. When atom gains
one or more electrons, it now has more electrons than protons which imparts net negative charge to the
anion. For ex. Cl−,SO2−4,NO−3��−,��42−,��3−

Definition

Chemical formula
The chemical formula of a compound is a symbolic representation of its composition. The chemical
formulae of different compounds can be written easily. The chemical formula of the compound can be
easily written using the valency. e.g the formula of aluminium sulphate is Al2(SO4)3��2(��4)3.
The valency of aluminium is 3 and that of sulphate is 2. Chemical formula is found by cross-multiplying
the valencies of both the ions.
Definition

Atomic mass unit

An atomic mass unit (a.m.u) is defined as precisely 112112 the mass of carbon-12 atom. It is a unit of
mass of elements e.g the atomic mass of Helium is 4 a.m.u.
Diagram

Atomic masses of various elements

The atomic masses of various elements are:

Definition

Relative atomic mass w.r.t. hydrogen scale

Number of times one atom of an element is heavier than the mass of an atom of hydrogen.
Definition

Relative atomic mass w.r.t C-12 atom

Number of times an atom of an element is heavier than the 112112the mass of an atom of carbon.
Definition

Molecular mass
Molecular mass or molecular weight is the mass of a molecule. It is calculated as the sum of the mass of
each constituent atom multiplied by the number of atoms of that element in the molecular formula.
E.g., Molecular mass of H2O=�2�=Mass of hydrogen atom× 2 +× 2 +Mass of oxygen
atom=2×1+16=18 amu=2×1+16=18 ���
Definition

Relative molecular mass w.r.t. carbon

Number of times one molecule of the substance is heavier than 112112 the mass of an atom of carbon.
Definition

Molecular mass numericals

Q. Calculate molecular mass of H22O.
No. of atoms of Hydrogen is 2, hence, atomic mass will be 1+1=2. Atomic mass of O is 16. As molecular
mass is the addition of atomic masses, hence, 2+16=18 is the molecular mass of water.
Definition

Formula mass unit

The formula unit mass of a substance is the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in the formula unit
of a compound. For example, calcium oxide has a formula unit CaO. Formula unit mass is calculated in
the same way as molecular mass.
Definition

Numericals on formula mass unit

Formula mass unit of water is 18 amu. Add the total mass of the atoms.
Formula

Formula for mole calculation

Mole=Given massMolecular/atomic mass����� �������������/
������ ����
Definition

Mole
A mole of a substance is defined as the mass of a substance containing the same number of fundamental
units as there are atoms in exactly 12 g of C12�12.
Mole in terms of volume:
One mole of all gaseous substances at 273 K and 1 atm pressure occupies a volume equal to 22.4 liter or
22,400 ml. The unit of molar volume is liter per mole or milliliter per mole.
Avogadro Number :
The number of particles present in 1 mole of any substance is fixed with a value of 6.023×10^23 This is
known as Avogadro number or constant represented by No.
Definition

Avogadro number
The number of particles present in 1 mole of any substance is fixed with a value
of 6.023×10236.023×1023. This is known as Avogadro number or constant represented by No��.
Definition

Mass of different compounds or atoms using mole concept

According to mole concept 1 mole of molecules == molecular mass in grams