ATOMIC STRUCTURE AND BONDING

The Beechmont Crest Online Guide to Organic Chemistry

ATOMIC STRUCTURE

This section is review. In order to understand organic chemistry, you have to be proficient in the basics of atomic structure and bonding. (This is usually taught in basic chemistry courses.)

Atoms are composed of a nucleus surrounded by electrons. The nucleus consists of protons (positive charge) and neutrons (neutral charge). Electrons carry a negative charge.

Atoms are extremely small. Most have a diameter of about 10 ^{-10 M}. The size of atoms is usually expressed in angstroms.

1 angstrom = 1.0 × 10^-10 meters

An atom’s mass is concentrated in its nucleus. The mass of a proton or a neutron is about 1.66 x 10^-24 g. The mass of an electron is only about 1/1800^th that of a proton. Atomic mass is measured in atomic mass units (a.m.u.)

1 atomic mass unit = 1.66053886 × 10^-27 kilograms

The mass of individual atoms is also measured in a.m.u. The mass of one mole of atoms (1 mole = 6.02214×10²³) of a particular element is the atomic weight of the element. Atomic weight is expressed in grams/mol.

1 angstrom = 1.0 × 10-10 meters

An atom’s mass is concentrated in its nucleus. The mass of a proton or a neutron is about 1.66 x 10 -24 g. The mass of an electron is only about 1/1800th that of a proton. Atomic mass is measured in atomic mass units (a.m.u.)

1 atomic mass unit = 1.66053886 × 10-27 kilograms

The mass of individual atoms is also measured in a.m.u. The mass of one mole of atoms (1 mole = 6.02214×1023) of a particular element is the atomic weight of the element. Atomic weight is expressed in grams/mol.

1 angstrom = 1.0 × 10^-10 meters

An atom’s mass is concentrated in its nucleus. The mass of a proton or a neutron is about 1.66 x 10^-24 g. The mass of an electron is only about 1/1800^th that of a proton. Atomic mass is measured in atomic mass units (a.m.u.)

1 atomic mass unit = 1.66053886 × 10^-27 kilograms

The mass of individual atoms is also measured in a.m.u. The mass of one mole of atoms (1 mole = 6.02214×10²³) of a particular element is the atomic weight of the element. Atomic weight is expressed in grams/mol.