Development of
Atomic Models
Rohit C. Tilwani, RCh, PhD
Early Models of the
Atom
1. Democritus - 400 BC
2. John Dalton - Dalton’s
Atomic Theory
Reflection: Can we be Democritus
sure that atoms exist?
Just as the rules of spelling
and phonics define how
letters can combine to form
a word, atoms combine to
form matter. John Dalton
DALTON’s Atomic Theory
1. All matter consists of indivisible particles called
atoms.
2. Atoms of the same element are similar in shape
and mass but differ from the atoms of other
elements.
3. Atoms cannot be created or destroyed.
4. Atoms of different elements may combine with
each other in fixed, simple, whole-number ratios to
form compound atoms.
5. Atoms of the same element can combine in more
than one ratio to form two or more compounds.
6. The atom is the smallest unit of matter that can
take part in a chemical reaction.
DALTON’s Atomic Theory
1. Law of Conservation of Mass
1. Law of Definite Composition
1. Law of Multiple Proportions
Discovery of the
Fundamental Subatomic
Particles
6
1879 WILLIAM
CROOKES
(British)
concluded that
CATHODE RAYS
in an evacuated
tube consist of a
stream of charged
particles produced
at the cathode.
The Discharge Tube Experiment
8
The cathode ray (blue line) was deflected by the electric field (yellow).
1886 EUGEN GOLDSTEIN (German) observed
“CANAL RAYS” (PROTONS) in a modified
Crookes tube.
Eugen Goldstein
10
Adding Electrons to the Model
Materials, when rubbed, can develop a
charge difference. This electricity is
called “cathode rays” when passed
through an evacuated tube. These
rays have a small mass and are
negative. Thomson noted that these
negative subatomic particles were a
fundamental part of all atoms .
1897 J.J.THOMSON(British)
1. concluded that a cathode
ray is composed of
negatively charged
particles (electrons) and
that these particles come
from the cathode.
2. determined the ratio of an
electron’s electric charge to
its mass (charge/mass
ratio)
J. J. Thomson
12
Thomson’s Plum Pudding
Model
1909 ROBERT MILLIKAN (American) determined
the charge of the electron (-1.60 x 10 – 19 coulomb)
with his oil drop experiment.
Robert Millikan 14
Fundamental Subatomic Particles
Particle Mass Charge
g amu
Electron (e-) 9.1091 x 10-28 0.00054897 -
Proton (p+) 1.67232 x 10-24 1.00727663 +
15
DEMOCRITUS was after all wrong . . .
“atomos” = indivisible
Why is the atom still regarded as
the
smallest unit of matter?
16
• All electrons, protons and neutrons
are alike.
• Only when these subatomic
particles are combined in varying
numbers do the entities exhibit
different properties.
17
Rutherford’s Alpha Scattering
experiment
REFLECTION:
Based on your knowledge
of the atom, how can
you interpret the result
of the Rutherford
experiment?
Summary of Results
1 Most of the alpha particles passed thru
the target undeflected.
2 Some were deflected at small (acute)
angles.
3 A few were deflected at large (obtuse)
angles.
21
Interpretation
1. The atom is mostly EMPTY space.
2. There is a BARRIER inside the atom which the
alpha particles seem to EVADE.
(a) mass HEAVY
(b) charge POSITIVE
NUCLEUS
(c) volume SMALL
(d) location CENTER
3. The electrons are outside the nucleus
22
Pretend you are Rutherford. .
Draw your own
model of the
atom.
23
Rutherford’s Planetary Model of the Atom-
discovery of the nucleus
Ernest Rutherford
The Father
of the
Nuclear Atom
27
Comparison
NUCLEUS ATOM
Pinhead House
Golf ball Olympic stadium
Ping pong ball Circumference 2
km away from
center
28
1932 JAMES CHADWICK (British) discovered
neutrons. In an investigation involving radioactivity in
1930, a scientist named BOTHE produced
NEUTRONS, but he was not aware he had.
James Bothe
Chadwick 29
Fundamental Subatomic Particles
Particle Mass Charge
g amu
Electron (e-) 9.1091 x 10-28 0.00054897 -
Proton (p+) 1.67232 x 10-24 1.00727663 +
Neutron (n0) 1.67482 x 10-24 1.0086654 0
Comparison of Mass of e -
and p +
p+ 1.67232 x 10-24 1
e- 9.1091 x 10-28 1835
2000
31
• Where can the neutrons
be found?
• Why is it important they
be present there?
32
The neutrons provide the
BINDING FORCE for the protons. . .
Hydrogen is atom the only atom
that can exist without a neutron in
its nucleus.
Why?
33
Bohr’s model…
• Electrons are found in specific
circular paths (orbits) around the
nucleus.
• The electrons have fixed energies
called energy levels. (like rungs
on a ladder)
• The amount of energy required to
move an electron to another
energy level is called a quantum.
Niels Bohr Atomic Model
In Bohr's model of the
hydrogen atom the
electron is allowed certain
orbits around the nucleus:
in jumping from one orbit
to an inner one, the atom
emits light of a certain
frequency which depends
on the orbits concerned.
Niels Bohr Atomic Model
An atom is a small positively charged
nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons
that are attracted to the atom
Provides explanations for the placement
of electrons
Begins to explain the positioning of
electrons in the atom and is a major step
towards our modern atomic structure
theory
Electron Cloud Model
Basically describes a cloud-like
region where the electron is likely
to be found.
It can not say with any certainty,
where the electron actually is at
any point in time, yet can describe
where it ought to be.
Represents a sort of history of
where the electron has probably
been and where it is likely to be
going. The red dot in the middle
represents the nucleus while the
red dot around the outside
represents an instance of the
electron.
• As the electron moves
it leaves a trace of
where it was.
• This collection of
traces quickly begins to
resemble a cloud.
• The probable locations
of the electron happen
to coincide with the
locations specified in
Bohr's model.
Modern Atomic Theory – describes the position of
electrons in terms of orbitals
ATOMIC
STRUCTURE
ACTIVITY
Consider the following table on composition of some atoms.
Atom No. of No. of No. of Atomic Mass Symbol
Proton Neutrons Electrons No. No.
s
I 26 29 26
II 25 29 25
III 26 30 26
IV 26 33 26
V 27 28 27
1. Which atoms are isotopes of the same element?
2. Which atoms have approximately the same mass?
3. Which atoms have the same nuclear charge?
40 42
4. Write the symbol of each atom ( e.g. 20 Ca ).
Atom No. of No. of No. of Atomic Mass Symbol
Proton Neutrons Electrons No. No.
s
I 26 29 26 26 55 55
26 Fe
II 25 29 25 25 54 54
25 Mn
III 26 30 26 26 56 56
26 Fe
IV 26 33 26 26 59 59
26 Fe
V 27 28 27 27 55 55
27 Co
43
ACTIVITY
Complete the following table. Complete also the symbol.
Symbol At. No. of No. of No. of Nuclear Mass Isotopic
No. Protons Electrons Neutrons Charge No. Mass
200
Hg0
45
Sc3+
133
55
80
Se0
36 46 +34
44
Symbol At. No. of No. of No. of Nuclear Mass Isotopic
No. Protons Electrons Neutron Charge No. Mass
s
200 80 80 80 120 +80 200 200.59
Hg
80
45 21 21 18 24 +21 45 44.95592
Sc3+
21
133 55 55 55 78 +55 133 133.905
Cs
55
80 34 34 34 46 +34 80 78.96
Se
34
80 34 34 36 46 +34 80 78.96
Se2-
34 45
ACTIVITY
Complete the following table for isotopes of magnesium:
Symbol Isotopic Mass No. No. of No. of
Mass Protons Neutrons
23.9924
24.9938
25.9898
If the relative abundance of isotopes 1, 2 and 3 are
40%, 25% and 35% respectively, what is the atomic
mass of Magnesium? 46
Element Isotopic Isotopic Atomic
Mass Abundance Mass
Si 27.97693 92.21% 28.086
28.97649 4.70%
29.97376 3.09%
S 31.97207 95.0% 32.064
32.97146 0.76%
33.96786 4.22%
35.96709 0.014%
Ga 68.9257 60.4% 69.72
70.9249 39.6%
47
Element Isotopic Isotopic Atomic
Mass Abundance Mass
Si 27.97693 92.21% 28.086
28.97649 4.70%
29.97376 3.09%
S 31.97207 95.0% 32.064
32.97146 0.76%
33.96786 4.22%
35.96709 0.014%
Ga 68.9257 60.4% 69.72
70.9249 39.6%
48
ACTIVITY
Determine the atomic mass of the following elements.
Compare the calculated atomic mass with values in
the periodic table.
Symbol Isotopic Isotopic Atomic
Mass Abundance Mass
Cl – 35 34.96885 75.8%
Cl – 37 36.96590 24.2%
B – 10 10.0129 19.78%
B – 11 11.00931 80.22%
N – 14 14.00307 99.63%
N – 15 15.00011 0.37%
49
Additional Problem
1. Natural silver consists of two isotopes:
107Ag (mass= 106.9041 amu) and 109Ag
(mass= 108.9047 amu). The periodic
table gives the atomic mass of silver as
107.868 amu. Find the relative percent
abundance of the lighter isotope of silver.
Answer: 51.82 % 107Ag
