Learn: Atomic Structure

Welcome!I've created this lesson to help you strengthen your understanding of Atomic Structure. We'll focus on key areas like atomic numbers, isotopes, and time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry.

What is Atomic Structure?Atomic structure refers to how atoms are made up of subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Understanding this helps explain why different elements behave the way they do in chemical reactions.

Atomic Number and Mass NumberThe atomic number is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which determines the element. The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

What are Isotopes?Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This means they have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon. They both have 6 protons but differ in their number of neutrons.

Time-of-Flight (TOF) Mass SpectrometryTOF mass spectrometry is a technique used to measure the mass of atoms or molecules. It works by ionising the sample, accelerating the ions, and measuring the time they take to travel a fixed distance.This helps identify isotopes and molecular structures.

Interpreting Mass SpectraA mass spectrum is a graph showing the relative abundance of ions plotted against their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Peaks represent different isotopes or fragments detected during the analysis.

Review Time!Great work! You've learned about atomic numbers, isotopes, and TOF mass spectrometry. Let's test your understanding with a few final questions.