Atomic Structure & Stoichiometry

Imagine the wind blowing across your faces now. Have you ever wondered what they were made of?

For over 2000 years, people have wondered about the fundamental building blocks of matter. As far back as 440 BC, the Greek Leucippus and his pupil Democritus coined the term atomos to describe the smallest particle of matter. It translates to mean something that is indivisible.

In the 18^th century, chemist John Dalton, revived the term when he suggested that each element was made up of unique atoms and the atoms of an element are all the same. At that time, there were about 35 known elements. This simple model could explain the millions of different materials around us. Differences between the atoms give the elements their different chemical properties.

In this section, the fundamental idea of atoms and chemical bonding is introduced. The knowledge of atomic structure opens the door for students to understand the world of chemical reactions. 

Students are introduced to the use of models and theories in the study of the structures of atoms, molecules and ions, and the bonding in elements and compounds. Calculations involving chemical formulae, reacting masses and volumes, and concentrations introduce students to the fundamentals of stoichiometry.

 2.1 Kinetic Particle Theory

 2.2 Atomic Structure

 2.3 Structures and Properties of Materials

 2.4 Ionic Bonding

 2.5 Covalent Bonding

 2.6 Metallic Bonding

 3 Formulae, Stoichiometry and the Mole Concept