Atomic Structure and Properties

1.1 Moles and Molar Mass

Atoms' fundamental structure—protons defining identity, electrons shaping behavior—creates the periodic table's predictable patterns, governing all chemical interactions from bonding to reactivity.

1.2 Mass Spectra of Elements

Mass spectrometry reveals an element's hidden identity—separating isotopes by mass to uncover atomic structure, calculate average atomic weights, and explain periodic trends.

1.3 Elemental Composition of Pure Substances

Pure substances reveal their elemental identity through fixed compositions—whether as atoms (Fe), molecules (O₂), or crystalline networks (SiO₂)—each with distinct properties governed by atomic structure.

1.4 Composition of Mixtures Macromolecules

Mixtures—combinations of elements and compounds without fixed ratios—retain their individual properties, enabling separation through physical means like distillation or filtration, unlike chemically bonded substances.

1.5 Atomic Structure and Electron Configuration

Electron configuration—the blueprint of an atom's orbitals—dictates chemical behavior, bonding patterns, and periodic trends, revealing why elements react in predictable ways.

1.6 Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Photoelectron Spectroscopy (PES) unveils the hidden architecture of atoms—using photon energy to eject electrons, revealing orbital energies and elemental identity through binding energy signatures.

1.7 Periodic Trends

Periodic trends—atomic radius, ionization energy, and electronegativity—emerge from the tug-of-war between proton pull and electron shielding, dictating an element’s reactivity and bonding behavior.

1.8 Valence Electrons and Ionic Compounds

Valence electrons—the outer-shell electrons of an atom—dictate ionic bonding, as metals lose electrons to form cations and nonmetals gain electrons to form anions, creating stable crystalline structures.

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