You are on page 1of 11
5.1 The Structure of the Atom Students will be able to Reeser eer oe Onin Arse toile el tee Co Cece Se Se ee ee eer ty Come explore how the basic unit of matter called atoms are structured and how their structure differs according to certain elements on the periodic table. After this lesson you will become familiar with terms such as atomic nucleus, electron proton, and atomic number. Neutron Figure 5.0 The structure of an atom Let's Recall ‘The word “atom “comes from a Greek word meaning “cannot be split”. All the atoms in a particular element are the same. An atom is made up of three different particles: protons (+), neutrons (no charge), and electrons(-). The protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus. Figure 5.1.1 The structure of an atom Km Keywords/Defnitions Cn] Pera Anueleus proton, Aneutron Anelectron Defected Electrostatic attraction the smallest particle of an element that has the chemical properties of the element. found in the center of the atom and contains the protons and neutrons. a positively charged particle found in the nucleus of an atom. an uncharged particle found in the nucleus of an atom. a negatively charged particles that move around outside the nucleus of the atom. the direction of an object was changed the force that holds individual atoms together. Atoms structure ‘* Thesubatomic particles of an atom are protons, electrons and neutrons. ‘* The protons and neutrons are grouped closely together in the centre of the atom known the nucleus. © Protons and neutrons have much more mass than the electrons. a Electrons have almost no mass. a aaa ‘* Protons and neutrons have the same mass, rt ‘© Protons have positive electrical charge. eg oHe ‘+ Neutrons have no electrical charge. mee: ene Electrons have anegative electrical charge. z (pe * Theelectrostatic force of attraction between the protons and electror hold the atoms together Figure 5.1.2 Abelium atom The development of atomic theory ‘The Plum Pudding Inthe 1980s a british scientist JJ. Thomson ene discovered the electrons. oe Electrons was scattered all around the structure of atom. “Plum pudding model" Sees: Figure 5.1.3 Thomson's plum pudding mode! he development of atomic theory Inthe 1909s Ernest Rutherford discovered the proton. * —Agold foil experiment was conducted to confirm this theory. © Rutherford fired fast moving particles, smaller than an atom at very thin gold foil. ‘© Most of the particles passed straight through the foil. Only a few of the particles (about 1 in 8000) were deflected in various directions. ‘© The results of this experiment is that the gold atoms must be mostly empty space, with their particles packed Figure 5.1.4 Rutherford gol foil into a dense nucleus at the centre. experiment 7 Whe development of atomic theory “© e In 1932 James Chadwick e collaborated with Ernest Rutherford — discovering the 6 & 6 6 presences of neutrons in an atom. Figure 5.1.5 Rutherford model. 1. Explain how Thomson's model of the atom is different from the one scientists use today. Who discovered the electron? When did they discover it? Who proved that the neutron existed? When did they do this it? What two things did Rutherford discover about the structure of the atom? How is Rutherford's model different from the model scientists use today? Key Takeaways (Summary) © The scientists did many experiments to reach the atomic construction, © They found that the atom consists of Nucleus & Electrons. © The nucleus is the central core of the atom, It is positively charged because it contains protons that are positively charged particles, and Neutrons that are electrically neutral particles (uncharged). * The electrons are negatively charged and they move around the nucleus. © The mass of the atom is concentrated in the nucleus because the electrons have a negligible mass relative to that of the proton or neutron, ©

You might also like