Basic ideas on atoms Flashcards
(36 cards)
Radioactivity
Not all nuclei of elements are stable meaning Ratio of Proton and neutrons are imbalanced
Radiation is omitted to regain this balance releasing excess protons and neutrons
Alpha decay
Equivalent to helium nucleus
Reduces atomic number by 2 & 4 making element more stable
Least penetrating- stopped by sheet of paper
Strongly ionising- large slow moving and carry 2+ charges
Deflected by magnetic field- therefore must carry a charge
Beta decay
streams of high energy electrons
Equivalent to electron
More penetrating than alpha- stopped by sheet of Al
Deflected by magnetic field in opp direction to alpha- therefore must carry negative charge.
Eg. 14C6 = 14N7+ 0e-1
Beta decay- positron
antiparticle to electron
Proton is converted in neutron while releasing positron
+1
Eg. 23Mg12 = 23Na11 + 0e+1
electron capture
Inverse beta decay
one of orbital electrons are captured by a positron in neuclus- forming neutron
Eg. 40K19 + 0e-1 = 40Ar18
Gamma decay
High energy Electromagnetic waves
Short wavelength high frequency
Stopped by a block of lead
Most penetrating weakly ionising
Undeflected by magnetic field- shows gamma rays are uncharged, Don experience force when passing lines of magnetic field
Half life
time taken to decay to half the number of radioactive atoms.
Cons of living cells
ionising radiation may cause damage to DNA of cells
Leads to changes in way self functions
May cause mutations and formation of cancerous cells
Or cell death
uses of radioactivity- medicine
Colbalt 60- radiotherapy for cancer treatment. High energy of Gamma radiation is used to kill cancer cells preventing tumours
Technetium 44m- medical radioisotope. Tracer. Normally to label a molecule which is taken by a tissue to be studied.
Uses of radioactivity- radiodating
Carbon 14- Use to calculate the age of plant and animal remains. All organisms absorb carbon 14. Rates of decay decreases over years and activity that remains can be used to calculate age
Potassium 40- Used to estimate geological age of rocks. Can change into Ar 40 by nucleus gaining inner electron.
Measuring ratio gives estimate
uses of radioactivity- dilutionanaylsis
Dilution analysis- Use of isotopically labelled substances to find the mass of a substance in a mixture. Useful when a component of complex mixture can be isolated from the mixture in pure state but can’t be extracted quantivaly
Electronic structure
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6
4s filled before 3d
electrons fill orbitals in order of increasing energy
First ionisation energy
Energy required to remove one electron from each atom in one mole of its gaseous atoms
X(g) = X+(g) + e-
First ionisation energy along a period
Increases due to decreasing atomic radius and greater electrostatic forces of attraction ( due to increasing number of protons)
First ionisation energy down a group
Decreases due to increasing atomic radius and increasing shielding reducing effect of electrostatic forces of attraction
atrraction
Electrons are held in their shells by their attraction to positive nucleus therefore the greater the attraction the greater the ionisation energy
what is attraction dependent on
size of positive nuclear charge: Greater the nuclear charge, greater the attractive force on outer electron and greater the IE
Distance of outer electron from nucleus: Greater distance, lower force of attraction, lower IE
Shielding by electrons in inner shell: Electrons in filled inner shells repel electrons in outer shells- reduce effects of positive nuclear charge. More filled subshells, smaller attractive force on outer electron, lower IE
He>H
Helium has a greater nuclear charge in the same subshell so there is little shielding
He>Li
Lithium’s outer electron is in a new shell which has increased shielding and is further from the nucleus
Be>B
Since borons outer Electron is in a new sub shell of slightly higher energy level and is partly shielded by 2S electrons
N>O
Since electron- electron repulsion between two paired electrons in P orbital in oxygen makes one of the electrons easier to remove. N doesn’t have a paired electron in its P orbital
He>Ne
Neon’s outer electron has increased shielding from inner electrons and is further away from the nucleus
Successive ionisation energies
Measure of energy needed to remove each electron inturn until all electrons are removed from an atom
Eg. 3rd IE is a measure of how easily 2+ ion loses to form 3+ ion
Na2+ (g) = Na3+ (g) + e-
SIEs always increase because:
-greater effective nuclear charge: Same number of Protons are holding fewer and fewer electrons
-as each electron is removed: Less electron-electron and each shell will be drawn in slightly closer to nucleus
- as distance of electron decreases: Nuclear attraction increases