ME 1205, MATERIAL SCIENCE

SOLUTION SHEET 2: ATOMIC STRUCTURE

1. (i) Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus

(ii) Atomic mass unit is used to compute atomic weight. 1 amu is 1/12 th the atomic mass of
carbon.
(iii) In one mole of substance, there are 6.023x1023 atoms or molecules. This is Avogadros
number.
(iv) Atomic weight is the sum of masses of protons and neutrons within the nucleus.

2. From the periodic table, the atomic weight of gold (Au) is 196.97 amu/atom. Since 1 amu/atom
= 1 g/mol, the atomic weight of gold is also 196.97 g/mol. This means that for 1 mol of gold,
the mass is 196.97g:
1 mol 196.97 g

In 1 mol of substance, there are 6.023 1023 atoms or molecules (Avogadros number).
Therefore,
6.023 10 23 atoms 196.97 g
196.97
1 atom 3.27 10 22 g
6.023 10 23
1 atom of gold has a mass of 3.27 10-22g.

3. To find how many atoms are in the gold wire, we first need to find the mass of the wire. The
equation we use is Mass = Volume Density.
2
0.07
Volume r 2 h 8 0.0308 cm
3

2
Mass Volume Density 0.0308 19.3 0.594 g
From the previous question,
196.97 g 6.023 10 23 atoms
6.023 10 23
1g 3.058 10 21 atoms
196.97

0.594 g 3.058 10 21 0.594 1.816 10 21 atoms

There are 1.816 1021 atoms in this piece of gold wire.

4. Boron (Z=5): 1s22s22p1

Fluorine (Z=9): 1s22s22p5
P5+: 1s22s22p6
P3-: 1s22s22p63s23p6
 5. Ionic -- there is Coulombic attraction between oppositely charged ions. There is electron
transfer from one atom to another. Ionic bonding is always found in compounds that are
composed of both metallic and non-metallic elements.
Covalent -- there is electron sharing between two adjacent atoms such that each atom assumes
a stable electron configuration.
Metallic -- the positively charged ion cores are shielded from one another, and also "glued"
together by the sea of valence electrons. Metallic bonding can only be formed when there are
large number of atoms in close proximity.
Van der Waals there is Coulombic attraction between oppositely charged ions, but there is
no electron transfer. Van der Waals bonding is weak compared to the above three types of
bonding.

6.

2 H + O H O H

2 Hydrogen Oxygen
atoms atom

O + O O O

Oxygen Oxygen
atom atom

7. (i) Electrons are assumed to revolve around the atomic nucleus in discrete orbit.
(ii) Energies of electrons are quantized. Electrons are permitted only to have specific values of
energy. An electron may change energy, but must make a quantum jump either to a higher
energy or a lower energy.
8. The bonds are ionic.

O
Ca

Ca2+ O2-