9/25/2009

Orbital Rings

This value is the number of electrons in an incomplete outermost shell. Copper, for instance, has a valence of 1 because there is 1 electron in the last shell, after the inner shells have been completed with their stable number. Similarly, hydrogen has a valence of 1, and carbon has a valence of 4. The number of outer electrons is considered positive valence, as these electrons are in addition to the stable shells.

Except for H and He, the goal of valence is 8 for all the atoms, as each tends to form the stable structure of 8 electrons in the outside ring. For this reason, valence can also be considered as the number of electron s in the outside ring needed to make 8. This value is the negative valence. As examples, the valence of copper can be considered +1 or -7; carbon has the valence of ±4. The inert gases have a valence of 0, as they all have a complete stable outer shell of 8 electrons.

The valence indicates how easily the atom can gain or lose electrons. For instance, atoms with a valence of +1 can lose this 1 outside electron, especially to atoms with a valence of +7 or -1, which need 1 electron to complete the outside shell with 8 electrons.

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9/21/2009

Atomic Number

This gives the number of protons or electrons required in the atom for each element. For the hydrogen atom in Fig. 1, the atomic number is 1, which means the nucleus has 1 proton balanced by 1 orbital electrons. Similarly, the carbon atom in Fig. 2 with atomic number 6 has 6 protons in the nucleus and 6 orbital electrons. Also, the copper atom has 29 electrons because its atomic number is 29.











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Structure of the Atom

Although nobody has ever seen an atom, its hypothetical structure fits experimental evidence that has been measured very exactly. The size and electric charge of the invisible particles in the atom are indicated by how much they are deflected by known forces. Our present planetary model of the atom was proposed by Niels Bohr in 1913. His contribution was joining the new ideas of the nuclear atom developed by Lord Rutherford (1871-1937) with the quantum theory of radiation developed by Max Planck (1858-1947) and Albert Einstein (1879-1955).

The nucleus contains protons for all the positive charge in the atom. The number of protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of planetary electrons. Thus, the positive and negative charges are balanced, as the proton and electron have equal and opposite charges. The orbits for the planetary electrons are also called shells or energy levels.

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Molecules and Compounds

A group of two or more atoms forms a molecule. For instance, two atoms of hydrogen (H) form a hydrogen molecule (H2). When hydrogen unites chemically with oxygen, the result is water (H2O), which is compound. A compound, then consists of two or more elements. The molecule is the smallest unit of a compound with the same chemical characteristic. We can have molecules for either elements or compounds. However, atoms exist only for the elements.


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