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39 views2 pages

atoms and molecules

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Laws of Chemical Combination

1. Law of conservation of mass: Mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
2. Law of Definite Proportions: Elements are always present in fixed proportions by mass in a chemical compound.
Dalton’s Atomic Theory Postulates
• All matter is made of tiny particles called atoms and are indivisible.
• Atoms of all elements can neither be created nor destroyed in chemical reactions.
• Atoms of an element are the same in mass and properties.
• Atoms of different elements possess different masses and different properties.
• Atoms combine in small whole-number ratios to form compounds.
• The number and types of atoms in a compound are constant.
Drawbacks of Dalton's Atomic Theory
• Atoms are divisible into subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, electrons).
• Dalton’s theory doesn't explain isotopes, atoms of the same element with different masses.
Elements and Symbols
Dalton introduced a system of notation to represent elements, while Berzelius proposed the symbols used today.
1. Berzelius' Symbols of Elements
Element Symbols:
• Single Letters: Elements like Carbon (C), Boron (B), and Oxygen (O) use their first letter.
• Two Letters: Elements like Aluminium (Al) and Chlorine (Cl) use the first letter and another in lowercase.
• Latin Names: Symbols like Iron (Fe) from ferrum and Sodium (Na) from natrium derive from Latin.
Atomic Mass:
• Atomic mass is the mass of an atom of an element.
• The relative atomic mass is how many times an atom of an element is heavier than 1/12th of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
Molecule:
• A molecule is the smallest particle of an element or compound that can exist independently.
• Examples: H₂O (water), O₂ (oxygen), O₃ (ozone).
• A single hydrogen atom (H) is not a molecule. When atoms bond, molecules such as H2 (hydrogen gas) or H2O (water) form.
Atomicity:
The number of atoms constituting a molecule is referred to as atomicity.

Compound:
A substance formed when two or more elements chemically combine.
A compound has a fixed ratio of elements and distinct properties.
Examples include Water (H₂O), Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆), Calcium oxide (CaO), and Sodium chloride (NaCl).
Differences Between a Molecule and a Compound
• A molecule is formed when two or more atoms bond chemically and can consist of the same or different elements. While all compounds are molecules, not all
molecules are compounds. Example: Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is a molecule, not a compound. It consists of two hydrogen atoms.
• Compound: A molecule of two or more different elements bonded chemically. Example: Water (H₂O) is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
Ion
A charged particle is formed when an atom or molecule gains or loses electrons.
1. Cation: A positively charged ion. Examples: Na⁺, Ca²⁺.
2. Anion: A negatively charged ion. Examples: F⁻, Cl⁻.
Chemical Formula
A chemical formula depicts the composition of a compound by using element symbols along with their corresponding valencies. Here’s a brief overview:
• Symbols of Elements: Represent the elements in a compound.
• Valency: The combining capacity of an element, showing how atoms mix with others. For example, hydrogen (H⁺) has a valency of 1, and oxygen (O²⁻) has a valency
of 2.
Rules for Writing Chemical Formulas:
1. Balance Valencies: Ensure that the total positive and negative charges are equal.
2. Order of Elements: Write the metal before the non-metal. For example, Sodium Chloride is NaCl.
3. Polyatomic Ions: If more than one polyatomic ion is present, place them in brackets. For example, calcium nitrate is written as Ca(NO₃)₂.
Writing Formulas for Simple Compounds (Binary Compounds):
1. Write the symbols of the elements.
2. Note the valencies of each component.
3. Crossover the valencies to balance the formula.
The formula for aluminium oxide:
Symbol Al O
↘ ↙
Valency 3 2
Formula Al2O3
Molecular Mass
• Definition: The total of the atomic masses of all atoms in a molecule is called the molecular mass.
• Calculation: Multiply the atomic mass of each element by the number of its atoms in the molecule, then add these values.
Formula Unit Mass
• The sum of all atoms' atomic masses in an ionic compound's formula unit.
• Calculation: Add the atomic masses of the elements in the formula unit.
For example, for Sodium Chloride (NaCl): (1×23) + (1×35.5) = 58.5 u
Mole Concept
• Mole: A unit representing 6.022 × 10²³ entities (atoms, molecules, ions).
• Avogadro’s Number: 6.022 × 10²³, used to calculate the number of particles in one mole of a substance.

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