Chapter 3
The Atomic Theory
Scientists’ different theories
Joseph Gay Lusaac Avogadro Dalton
• When gases react, • At same temperature, Dalton’s Atomic Theory
they react in small pressure and equal states that:
whole ratios. volumes, different 1. Elements are the
gases have the same simplest form of a
number of particles. substance.
• Where the conditions 2. They are made up of
are; identical atoms. So as
Volume (V)= 22.4 an example, element
dm3 carbon is made up of
Pressure (P)= 1 atm identical carbon
Temperature (T)= 0 atoms.
degrees Celsius 3. Elements combine to
Number of form compounds. One
particles= atom of one element
6.023x1023 which is combines with one
Avogadro’s number atom of another
element to form one
molecule of a
compound.
Example; H + O
OH
but this was proven
wrong by Avogadro
because Dalton
ignored and didn’t
assume that diatomic
molecules exist.
4. Atoms cannot be
created nor destroyed,
always conserved.
• When products are • Some elements exist • Disagreeing with
gaseous, they always in nature as diatomic Avogadro that equal
bear small whole molecules (made up volumes of gases have
ratios to the gaseous of two atoms) others equal number of
reactants. are monoatomic molecules.
(made up of one
atom)
• Example: Carbon is
monoatomic while
Oxygen (O2) and
1
Hydrogen (H2) are
diatomic.
• 2H2 + O2 2H2O • Was proven to be
2 volumes of right.
hydrogen gas react
with 1 volume of
oxygen gas to produce
2 volumes of water.
• H2 + Cl2 2HCl
1 volume of hydrogen
gas react with 1
volume of chlorine
gas to produce 2
volumes of hydrogen
chloride.
2
Chemical Representations
Chemical Molecular Simplest or Structural Molecular
Formula Formula Empirical Formula Models
Formula
Molecular Molecular Ionic and Molecular Molecular
compounds and compounds molecular compounds compounds
ionic compounds
compounds
Gives the It is the chemical It gives the A symbol of a We use the to
number and the formula in simplest ratio in molecule visualize
kind of atoms of molecular which atoms or showing the molecular
each element in compounds, where ions are found atoms and how shapes because
a molecule of molecules are the together in a they are structural
that compound. smallest particle in compound. bonded formulas do not
a compound. together using show shapes in a
lines to three-
represent the dimensional
bonding. form.
2 NO2 • They apply • CaCl2 • Single • We
2: coefficient only to ionic bonds represent
means that there covalent compound by atoms by
are 2 compounds so it has a single balls of
molecules of and chemical lines, different
nitrogen diatomic formula double colors
dioxide. molecules as its bonds for
(2 atoms), simplest by two different
2: subscript
tetratomic formula. lines atoms
refers to the
number of (4 atoms) • N2O4 has and and
as Cl2 and a simplest triple sticks for
oxygen atoms NH3. bonds bonds.
formula
• The • Apply to as NO2 by three
ratio of sugars. but lines.
nitrogen
• Doesn’t different
to molecular
apply on
oxygen formulas.
ionic
is 1 N:2
compounds
O
because
there are
no
molecules
as NaCl.
• Doesn’t
apply on
metals like
3
Na, Fe and
Ag.
• NaCl and
Si O2 are
compounds
but don’t
have
molecular
formula
because
they are
not made
of
molecules.
4
Molecular Mass and Molar Mass
Molecular Mass Mass of one mole Molar mass (M)
Unit: no units Unit: g (grams) Unit: g/mol (grams per mole)
Sum of the atomic masses of Mass in grams of one mole Same as mass of one mole
the atoms in the molecule. particles of the substance in but with a different unit.
the form in which it is found
naturally.
Note: All relations have the same numerical value but different units.
Example: atomic mass of Hydrogen is 1 and chlorine is 35.5
So; molecular mass: 1+35.5 = 36.5 amu
Mass of one mole: 36.5 g
Molar mass: 36.5 g/mol
Rules for solving problems
1. 1g (gram) = 6.023x1023 amu (Avogadro’s number)
2. 1 mole = 6.023x1023 particles
3. Mass of 1atom of Carbon-12 = 12amu (atomic mass units)
4. n (number of moles) = m (mass) in (grams) / M (molar mass) in (grams/mol)
n = m /M
so, m = n x M
5. Number of atoms = number of molecules x atomicity
6. Number of moles of atoms = number of moles of molecules x atomicity
7. For determining the relative molecular masses of gases, under same conditions of
temperature and pressure, we use the following rule; m1 / m2 = M1 / M2
m1 (mass of gas 1 in grams) = M1 (molar mass of gas 1 in g/mol)
m2 (mass of gas 2 in grams) M2 (molar mass of gas 2 in g/mol)
Note that:
• Atomicity: is the total number of atoms in a molecule = total number of
subscripts.
• Molar mass: is the sum of atomic masses of elements in a molecule.
• Coefficient: represents the number of molecules.
5
• Subscript: represents the number of atoms.
