The maximum amounts of electrons, which can be occupied within a shell, are as follows:
1st shell can hold a maximum of 2 electrons
2nd shell can hold a maximum of 8 electrons
3rd shell can hold a maximum of 18 electrons
4th shell can hold a maximum of 32 electrons
While the layout of the nitrogen atom can be seen with the different particles and the different amounts of electrons can be seen in their orbits around the nucleus.
To find out the total mass of an atom the number of protons and neutrons must combined together to get the mass number.
The reason why some atoms are uncharged and not reactive is that the atoms contain the same amount of electrons to protons.
To find out how reactive the atom is the atomic number must be found by how many protons are in the atom in relation to the periodic table.
Periodic Table
Demetri Ivanovich Mendeleev first proposed the Periodic Chart in 1869.He first proposed the idea that the elements could be arranged in a periodic order. In simple terms the periodic table places the element in order of its reactivity. The reactivity of an element is in relation to their atomic number (what’s inside the atom of the element).
To fully understand the periodic table there is two main sections with in it, the period and the group. The group of the elements runs along the top of the table, which helps identify the element and other elements with the similar similarities of that atom.
The other section is the period, which runs from right to left. When looking down the periodic structure you can see that the atomic number increases which means that the lower elements are more reactive because of their atomic structure.
The periodic table is also split into different sections, which characterise what the can element react with, apart from the inert element which are also known as the noble gases. These gases have a full electron structure and don’t react with anything.
The table also gives us enough information to look at each of the chemical properties of each of the elements because group 1 to including the transition elements are in a solid form. Groups 5 and 6 apart from nitrogen and oxygen are in the from of a powder and finally group 7 and the group c (Noble gases) elements including nitrogen and oxygen are in the form of a gases which are more denser than others due to their relative atomic mass.
The main proposed idea about elements is that they want to achieve stability. This means that atoms need to either lose or gain electrons. While this is possible the only drawback is that it is easier to gain an electron rather than to lose an electron because of the amount of energy required.
Covalent and Ionic Bonding
There are two main types of bonding: covalent and ionic. The main difference between them is that covalent bonds share electrons where as ionic bonds give their electrons away.
Covalent bonds form between different non-metal elements. When the 2 elements are being shared the electrons are attracted to the element with more electrons within their shells. The process for this attraction of electrons is called electro-negativity. The element with the higher electro-negativity will result in the electrons being in the shells of the element longer. The results of covalent bonding will end up with one element being positively charged and the other being negatively charged (Just like a magnet).
Ionic bonding form with elements that give electrons away and with others that accept electrons. The electrons that are shared are found in groups 1 and 2 while elements that gain electrons are found in groups 6 and 7. Thus metal elements will give electrons to the non-metal elements. Overall the number of protons in the nucleus is unaffected by this giving of electrons. This will result in the element either becoming positively charged or negatively charged depending on how many electrons have been given away.
Conclusion
The electronic structure of the atom depends on the contents within the atom. The different amount of electrons around the shell of the atom change how reactive the atom is and its relation to the periodic table. The different processes of bonding help change the chemical properties. E.g. sodium chloride = table salt.
The periodic table is basically the table, which tells us the electronic structure of the atoms. It ranges from the less reactive elements (Noble gases) to the extremely reactive elements (Halogen element). Overall the periodic table has in total of 114 known elements and it is only a matter of time before any more elements are going to be found.
Bibliography
Class notes – Scientific principles by Jamie Long - Sept – Oct 2003
- information about compounds and mixture
- Pictures of the Periodic Table
- ionic and covalent bond pictures
- Image of electronic structure of Nitrogen.