History of the Atom
LARA PATEL 9AE
Democritus
Democritus was the first philosopher to
introduce the atomic theory, and he
theorized that all material bodies are
made up of indivisible and minuscule
'atoms'. His thought was that you could
have matter and break it down again
and again, into smaller identical pieces,
until it was turned into the smallest
representative element of your material
(an atom). He demonstrated this by
breaking a shell in half.
450/500
BC
John Dalton
Dalton essentially came to the same conclusion as
Democritus: that all matter is made up of minuscule
particles called 'atoms'. However, he expanded
further on the theory with his logical models, and
stated that all atoms in an element are the same,
but there are varied types of atoms corresponding
to different elements. He envisioned the atom as a
solid, hard sphere, but he was unsure of his
discoveries, despite this, he still expanded and said
that different types of spheres may compile, for the
different components of the atom. His experiment to
support his speculations, was that he combined
oxygen with either one or two volumes of nitric
oxide in closed vessels over water.
1803
Further Discoveries
LARA PATEL 9AE
J.J. Thomson
J.J. Thomas (Joseph John Thomson) discovered the first sub-
atomic particle: the electron. His research and experiments,
included sealing gases in a glass tube fitted at both ends with
metal disks called electrodes. They were connected to
electricity and the tube would glow. He concluded that
cathode rays were minuscule particles, smaller than atoms,
and negatively charged. His plum pudding model, displayed
that: atoms contain electrons and are overall neutral. The
model also suggested atoms are solid spheres of positive
charge, that have electrons sporadically dotted outside
(hence the pudding, as electrons symbolise the fruit in a
cake). However, whilst Thomson's model did not include
protons or neutrons, which would be discovered at a later
date, he still introduced the idea that atoms were not just
solid spheres, but had varied components to them.
1897
Ernest Rutherford
Rutherford also collaborated with Hans Geiger
and Ernest Marsden, to test the Plum Pudding
Model. They fired beams of alpha particles
(positively charged particles) at gold foil. The
expectation was for the particles to pass
through the foil in the same direction, but some
went at an angle after passing through, or even
repelled back to the source. The particles had
collided into a dense atomic mass - Rutherford
concluded that, therefore, atoms had a
positively charged nucleus, containing their
mass, and electrons orbit around this.
1909
Further Discoveries
LARA PATEL 9AE
Niels Bohr
Bohr realised that if electrons were
negative and the nucleus was positive, the
electrons would be attracted towards the
nucleus, and subsequently would spiral
inwards towards it. Bohr used
mathematical models, to further adapt
and develop Rutherford's model. He also
included fixed energy levels/shells, which
electrons occupy, around the nucleus,
which also supports his idea that
electrons prevent the atom from
collapsing.
1913
Ernest Rutherford
Additional studies conducted by
Rutherford, also concluded that the
positive charge that the nucleus
possesses, roots from more discreet
sub-atomic particles; we now know
these as protons. His experiment
included a nuclear reaction, and
resulted in the first 'splitting' of an
atom, which is how he identified the
proton.
1917
Further Discoveries
LARA PATEL 9AE
James Chadwick
James Chadwick, discovered another sub-
atomic particle in the nucleus, that was
uncharged: the neutron, which had a mass
nearly equal to the protons. The physicist
conducted an experiment, in which he
bombarded Beryllium with alpha particles
from the natural radioactive decay of
Polonium. The result was radiation, that
showed high penetration through a lead
shield, which could not be explained with
the known particles known at that time.
1932
Maria Goeppert-Mayer
Mayer developed a model where
nucleons (protons or neutrons) were
distributed in shells with different
energy levels. She essentially created
the modern-day atomic model we use
today, and even earned herself a Nobel
Prize for it (making her the second
woman to get one in physics, after
Marie Curie)!
1949
Model Timeline
REALY GREAT TIMELINE

John J.J. Ernest Niels Bohr

Dalton Thomson Rutherford

A ball of positive A positively charged A nucleus with

A solid sphere. charge, with nucleus, with electrons on shells
electrons spread electrons and energy levels
within it. surrounding it. surrounding it.

1803 1897 1909 1913

Model Timeline
LARA PATEL 9AE

James Chadwick Maria Goeppert-Mayer

A demonstration
of her theory
with various
A complete atomic model, including all of energy levels, for
the sub-atomic particles (protons, various
electrons, and neutrons), energy elements/atoms.
levels/shells, a nucleus, etc...

1932 1915