NEET-Chemistry
Atoms & Molecules
Introduction
- Around 500 BC, an Indian Philosopher Maharishi Kanad, first time postulated the concept of indivisible part of matter and named it ‘pramanu.’
- In 1808, John Dalton used the term ‘atom’and postulated the atomic theory to the study of matter.
Dalton’s Atomic Theory
- According to Dalton’s atomic theory, all matter, whether an element, a compound or a mixture is composed of small particles called atoms.
- According to Dalton’s atomic theory, all matters, whether they are elements, compounds, or mixtures, are composed of small particles known as atoms.
Salient features of Dalton’s Atomic Theory
- All matter is made of very miniscule particles known as atoms.
- Atom is an indivisible particle, which cannot be created or destroyed through chemical reaction.
- All atoms of an element are identical in mass and chemical properties whereas, atoms of different elements have different masses and chemical properties.
- To form a compound, atoms are combined in the ratio of small whole numbers.
- In a given compound, the relative number and kinds of atoms are constant.
Atomic Mass
- The mass of an atom of a chemical element; it is expressed in atomic mass units (symbol is u).
- The atomic mass is roughly equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons present in the atom.
- One atomic mass unit is a mass unit equal to the exactly one-twelfth (1/12th) the mass of one atom of carbon-12 and the relative atomic masses of all elements have been calculated with respect to an atom of carbon-12.
Molecule
- The smallest particle of an element or a compound, which is capable to exist independently and shows all the properties of the respective substance.
- A molecule, normally, is a group of two or more atoms which are chemically bonded together.
- Atoms of the same element or of different elements can join (with chemical bond) together to form molecules.
- The number of atoms that constitute a molecule is known as its atomicity.
Ion
- A charged particle is known as ion; it could be either negative charge or positive charge.
- The positively charged ion is known as a‘cation’.
- The negatively charged ion is known as an‘anion.’
Chemical Formulae
- A chemical formula of a compound demonstrations its constituent elements and the number of atoms of each combining element.
The ch
- emical formula of a compound is the symbolic representation of its Composition.
- The combining capacity of an element is known as its ‘valency.’
Molecular Mass
- The molecular mass of a substance is calculated by taking the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule of respective substance. For example, the molecular mass of water is calculated as −
- Atomic mass of hydrogen = 1u
- Atomic mass of oxygen = 16 u
- The water contains two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen.
- Molecular Mass of Water is = 2 × 1+ 1×16 = 18 u (u is the symbol of molecular mass).
Formula Unit Mass
- The formula unit mass of a substance is calculated by taking the sum of the atomic masses of all atoms in a formula unit of a compound.
Avogadroogadro Constant or Avogadro Number
- Avogadro was an Italian scientist who had given the concept of Avogadro Number (also known as Avogadro Constant).
- The number of particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) present in 1 mole of any substance is fixed, and its value always calculated as 6.022 × 1023.
- In 1896, Wilhelm Ostwald had introduced the concept of ‘mole;’ however, mole unit was accepted to provide a simple way of reporting a large number in 1967.
Law of Conservation of Mass
- During a chemical reaction, sum of the masses of the reactants and products remains unchanged, which is known as the‘Law of Conservation of Mass.’