Atomic Structure of Some Elements

 Atomic Structure of Some Elements

Atomic structure of some elements:

There are some figures below shows the representations of the atomic structures of different elements

 

Figure (a) below shows the simplest atomic structure. It is the hydrogen atom. An hydrogen atom consists only one electron revolving around the nucleus. In the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, only one proton exists
, there is no neutron in the nucleus of an hydrogen atom.

Figure (b) below : shows the structure of an aluminium atom. There are 13 electrons present in the aluminium atom. The nucleus contains 13 protons and 14 neutrons. Due to the same number of electrons and protons, the aluminium atom is electrically neutral. There are 3 orbits in aluminium atom the 1^st orbit contains 2 electrons, 2^nd one contains 8 electrons and the third one is containing 3 electrons

2+8+3=13 total electrons.

As mention already these electrons revolves around the nucleus of an atom.

 The atom in the inner orbit or shells do not normally leave the atom. But the electrons which revolve at a great speed in the outermost orbit (near the edge of the atom) do not always remain confined to the same atom. Some of them move in random manner and may travel from an atom to atom.

In the following figure shows how the electrons may move from one atom to another randomly. Electrons that are able to move in this fashion are known as free electrons. Due to these free electrons in a material, that is able to conduct electric current.

The electron which are closest to the nucleus of an atom are called  bound electrons.

 

The following figure shows the silicon atom. Its nucleus contains 14 protons and 14 neutrons. There are 14 electrons revolving around the nucleus. There are 3 orbits in which electrons move around to the nucleus 1^st orbit has 2 electrons, 2^nd orbit has 8 electrons and 3^rd orbit has 4 electrons

2+8+4=14 electrons

 

The following figure shows the phosphorus atom. Its nucleus contains 15 protons and 16 neutrons. There are 14 electrons revolving around the nucleus. There are 3 orbits in which electrons move around to the nucleus 1^st orbit has 2 electrons, 2^nd orbit has 8 electrons and 3^rd orbit has 5 electrons

2+8+5=15 electrons

The following figure shows a more complex structure. It represents a germanium atom (atomic number 32). Its nucleus contains 32 protons and 41 neutrons. There are 4 orbits in the germanium atom

1^st orbit has 2 electrons, 2^nd orbit has 8 electrons, 3^rd orbit has 18 electrons and 4^rth orbit has 4 electrons.

In the silicon and germanium atom, the outermost orbit has 4 valence electrons. And due to this, many properties of these materials are similar.