CONCORDIA COLLEGE, INC.

Integrated Basic Education Department

SY 2024-2025

MODULE 2.1.
History of an Atom: The Journey to Understanding the
Atom

Introduction
Atoms are the tiny building blocks that make up everything around us, from the air we
breathe to the food we eat. But did you know that our understanding of the atom has changed
dramatically over time? Thousands of years ago, philosophers like Democritus believed that if
you kept cutting matter into smaller and smaller pieces, you’d reach a point where it couldn’t be
divided anymore—this smallest piece, he called "atomos," or "indivisible."

Core Content
Long ago, in ancient Greece, philosophers like Democritus wondered what
everything was made of. He had a curious idea that if you kept cutting something in half, you
would eventually reach a tiny, unbreakable piece he called "atomos," or the "indivisible." But
this was just an idea, without any experiments to prove it.
Centuries later, in the 1800s, an English scientist named John Dalton revived the
idea, but with a twist: he suggested that these “atoms” were unique for each element, like tiny
Lego blocks of matter, each a different type. Dalton thought atoms were solid and indivisible,
just as Democritus had imagined. His theory helped explain why water was always made of two
hydrogens and one oxygen – the atoms always combined in fixed ways.
However, in 1897, another scientist, J.J. Thomson, made a surprising discovery.
He was experimenting with cathode rays and found negatively charged particles within the atom,
which he called "electrons." Dalton’s solid atoms suddenly seemed less solid, as Thomson
proposed that atoms were like “plum pudding” – a positively charged “soup” with electrons
scattered throughout, like raisins in pudding.
But the journey didn’t end there. In 1909, Ernest Rutherford and his students shot
tiny particles at thin gold foil, expecting them to pass through without any trouble. Instead, some
bounced right back! Rutherford realized that atoms had a dense center he called the nucleus, with
electrons orbiting like planets around the Sun. This was a radical change – atoms were mostly
empty space with a solid core!
 Then, in 1913, Niels Bohr refined Rutherford's model, suggesting that electrons
orbited the nucleus in specific paths or “energy levels.” Bohr’s model explained how atoms
could absorb and release light in unique colors, much like a neon sign. However, scientists
eventually found that even Bohr's model was incomplete.
In the 1920s, the final step came with the Quantum Mechanical Model. Scientists
like Schrödinger and Heisenberg discovered that electrons didn’t orbit in neat paths but existed
in “clouds” of probability. They realized that you couldn’t pinpoint the exact location of an
electron but could only predict where it might be. This strange, abstract idea gave us the most
accurate model of the atom we have today.
The journey to understanding the atom has been filled with changes, surprises, and
revisions. With each discovery, scientists moved closer to the truth, showing us that science is a
story of constant exploration and revision.

Activity 1. Timeline of the past

Instructions:
 Create your own timeline about the history of an atom.
Activity 2. Atom Dating Profile
Instructions:
 Create a dating profile for your assigned scientist. The profile should include:
- Name: Chosen Scientist in History of an Atom
- Picture: A drawing of the Scientist / Model
- Bio/ Description: A brief description of the Scientist / model
- Fun Facts: Any interesting or unique characteristics of the mentioned scientist
and proposed work
Guide Questions:

1. Analyze the progression of atomic models from Dalton to the Quantum Mechanical
Model. How did each new discovery challenge the model that came before it, and what
does this suggest about the nature of scientific knowledge?

2. Imagine you are J.J. Thomson, having just discovered the electron within the atom.
Based on what you know about atomic models, what predictions might you make about
other possible components of the atom? How would you plan to test these predictions
with the technology available at your time?
Rubrics for Grading

Activity 1. Timeline of the Past

Includes all major events with clear descriptions, covering all

Completion (10%)
required information and providing context for each event.

All dates, facts, and descriptions are accurate, showing thorough

Accuracy (5%)
research and attention to detail.
Timeline shows exceptional creativity, using unique visuals,
Creativity (5%) colors, and elements that enhance engagement and
understanding.
Clarity and Events are organized in a clear, logical sequence, and the
Organization (5%) timeline flows well, making it easy to follow and understand.

Activity 2. Atom Dating Profile

Includes all key details about the atom: identity, characteristics

(protons, neutrons, electrons), and atomic model. Clearly
Understanding (15%) explains the atom's "personality" based on its model (e.g.,
Rutherford’s nucleus-centered structure or Bohr’s energy
levels).
Profile is exceptionally creative, using humor, personality
Creativity (5%) traits, and/or "likes/dislikes" that relate well to atomic behavior
or history. Shows a unique perspective on the atom.
Information is well-organized, with a clear flow that makes the
Structure and Flow
profile easy and enjoyable to read. Each section transitions
(5%)
smoothly.