What is the name given to each electron shell (Main Energy Levels) of an atom?
Principle Quantum Number (Or N)
Electrons are arranged around the nucleus in principal energy levels or principal quantum shells
How can we calculate the maximum number of electrons each shell can hold?
2N²
What is an Atomic Orbital?
You need to know that electrons can have either an up-spin or a down-spin
Relative mass & charge of subatomic particles table:
What is an Atomic Number?
The atomic number (or proton number) is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and has symbol Z
The atomic number is equal to the number of electrons present in a neutral atom of an element
What is a Mass Number?
(Nucleon)
The mass number (or nucleon number) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom and has symbol A
The number of neutrons can be calculated by: Number of neutrons = mass number - atomic number
What are Isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that contain the same number of protons and electrons but a different number of neutrons
* Isotopes have similar chemical properties because they have the same electronic structure.
* They may have slightly varying physical properties because they have different masses.
The symbol for an isotope is the chemical symbol (or word) followed by a dash and then the mass number:
E.g. carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon containing 6 and 8 neutrons respectively
How to calculate the relative atomic mass of an isotope:
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry Diagram:
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry : Ionisation
Stage 1 : Ionisation
There are two key ways in which the sample could be ionised:
* Electron Impact (or electron ionisation)
* Electrospray Ionisation
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry : Ionisation
What is Electron Impact Ionisation? (P1)
This method of ionisation is used for elements and substances which have a lower molecular mass
The mass of the original atom remains constant
Electron impact is used for elements and substances with low formula mass. Electron impact can cause larger organic molecules to fragment.
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry : Ionisation
What is Electron Impact Ionisation? (P2)
The molecular ion can be broken down further, or fragmented:
The fragments are also accelerated through the sample and hit the detector, causing different peaks to show on the mass spectrum which is produced
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry : Ionisation
What is Electrospray Ionisation? (P1)
This method is used for substances which have a higher molecular mass
Unlike with electron impact ionisation, fragmentation is unlikely to happen
This is often called a soft ionisation technique
Electro spray ionisation is used preferably for larger organic molecules. The ‘softer’ conditions of this technique mean fragmentation does not occur.
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry : Acceleration
Acceleration
Given that all the particles have the same kinetic energy, the velocity of each particle depends on its mass. Lighter particles have a faster velocity, and heavier particles have a slower velocity.
Time of Flight MS : Stage 3: Ion Drift (in the flight tube)
Ion Drift
Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry : Detection
Detection
Key Equations for the TOFMS:
KE = kinetic energy of the particles (J)
m = mass of the particles (kg)
v = velocity of the particles (ms-1)
t = time of flight of the particles (s)
d = the length of the flight tube (m)
Shells/Orbitals Diagram
Each shell can be divided further into subshells, labelled s, p, d and f
Each orbital can only hold 2 electrons
What is a Subshell/Sublevel?
All of the orbitals of the same type in the same shell
S Orbital Shape:
E.g. the s orbital of the third quantum shell (n = 3) is bigger than the s orbital of the first quantum shell (n = 1)
S/P Orbital Shape Diagram:
Note that the shape of the d orbitals is not required
Representation of orbitals (the dot represents the nucleus of the atom) showing spherical s orbitals (a), p orbitals containing ‘lobes’ along the x, y and z axis
What is the Ground State?
Deducing the Electron Configuration (Periodic Table)
s block elements:
* Have their valence electron(s) in an s orbital
p block elements:
* Have their valence electron(s) in a p orbital
d block elements:
* Have their valence electron(s) in a d orbital
f block elements:
* Have their valence electron(s) in an f orbital
How do Subshells vary in energy?