The following Topics and Sub-Topics are covered in this chapter and are available on MSVgo:
The following Topics and Sub-Topics are covered in this chapter and are available on MSVgo:
Introduction
The structure of atom is one of the most basic concepts in Chemistry that you need to memorize moving forward. An atom consists of a nucleus with protons and neutrons in it, while the electrons, which are negatively charged particles, spin around the centre of the nucleus. In this article, we are discussing the structure of atoms and the corresponding atomic theories to help you understand the basics.
Several scientists tried to describe the structure of the atom through atomic models during the 18th and 19th centuries. There were many advantages and disadvantages of these atomic models. However, they played a crucial role in the evolution of the modern atomic model. Let’s learn how.
John Dalton, an English chemist, put forth that all matters are made up of atoms, which are invisible and unbreakable. The postulates of Dalton’s Atomic Theory are:
Sir Joseph John Thomson conducted an experiment called the cathode ray experiment. He realized that through the experiment you can define the atomic structure as a positively charged sphere having negatively charged electrons in it. Thomson used a tube made of glass with two openings through which you can pump in the gas and another a vacuum pump to get the gas out. According to Thomson, atoms are electrically neutral as positive and negative charges have equal magnitude.
The limitation of the Thomson Atomic Model is that it failed to explain clearly the stability of an atom and that other subatomic particles cannot be deposited inside this model.
Rutherford altered the atomic structure with the discovery of subatomic particles called the nucleus. His experiment employed Alpha ray scattering. His observations were:
The Subatomic particles include:
Nucleons are the part of the nucleus of an atom. You can consider a nucleon as both a proton or a neutron. Atomic numbers illuminate the unique number of protons present in an element. However, an element’s atomic structure can differ in the total number of nucleons.
The variation of elements having different nucleon numbers is called isotopes of the elements. So if you find an element having the same number of protons but the number of neutrons being different then that will be an isotope of an element.
According to this theory proposed by Niels Bohr and Ernest Rutherford:
Thomas Young was the first to prove that electrons have a photoelectric effect which states that they also have wave nature. He showed that through an experiment called the double-slit experiment.
1. Who discovered the structure of the atom?
Answer: Democritus was the first to propose the concept of atoms, but the idea of atomic theory was revived by John Dalton.
2. What is the atomic structure in physics?
Answer: It is a complex arrangement of negatively charged electrons put in shells about a positively charged nucleus. Atom’s mass which is made up of protons and neutrons is the content of the nucleus. Neutrons proved to help understand the structure of an atom.
3. Who found Neutron?
Answer:- British physicist James Chadwick, discovered neutrons in 1932.
4. Who discovered the electron?
Answer:- In 1897, British physicist J.J. Thomson discovered electrons.
The study of the structure of atom has greatly aided in understanding the whole class of chemical reactions, bonds, and their physical properties. Therefore, it is crucial to learn the core concept behind the structure of atom. To learn more about it, check out the MSVgo app and their official site. The MSVgo philosophy is to enable a core understanding of any concept. The video library of the app explains concepts with examples or explanatory visualisations or animations., Happy learning.
