Atomic structure

Subatomic Particles and Isotopes

know the structure of an atom in terms of electrons, protons and neutrons · know the relative mass and charge of protons, neutrons and electrons · know what is meant by the terms 'atomic (proton) number' and 'mass number' · be able to use the atomic number and the mass number to determine the number of each type of subatomic particle in an atom or ion · understand the term 'isotope'

Electronic Configuration and Ionisation Energies

be able to define first, second and third ionisation energies and understand that all ionisation energies are endothermic · know that an orbital is a region within an atom that can hold up to two electrons with opposite spins · understand how ionisation energies are influenced by the number of protons in the nucleus, the electron shielding and the sub-shell from which the electron is removed · know that ideas about electronic structure developed from: (i) an understanding that successive ionisation energies provide evidence for the existence of quantum shells and the group to which the element belongs; (ii) an understanding that the first ionisation energy of successive elements provides evidence for electron sub-shells · be able to describe the shapes of s and p orbitals · know that orbitals in sub-shells: (i) each take a single electron before pairing up; (ii) pair up with two electrons of opposite spin · be able to predict the electronic configuration of atoms of the elements from hydrogen to krypton inclusive and their ions, using s, p, d notation and electron-in-boxes notation · understand that electronic configuration determines the chemical properties of an element · know that the Periodic Table is divided into blocks, such as s, p and d, and know the number of electrons that can occupy s, p and d sub-shells in the first four quantum shells