ATOMIC AND ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF

ATOM
 ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Dalton’s Atomic Theory
• An element is composed of tiny particles called atoms
– All atoms of the same element have the same chemical
properties
• In an ordinary chemical reaction
– There is a change in the way atoms are combined with each
other
– Atoms are not created or destroyed
• Compounds are formed when two or more atoms of
different element combine
Fundamental Laws of Matter
• There are three fundamental laws of matter
– Law of conservation of mass
• Matter is conserved in chemical reactions
– Law of constant composition
• Pure water has the same composition everywhere
– Law of multiple proportions
• Compare Cr2O3 to CrO3
• The ratio of Cr:O between the two compounds is a small
whole number
https://sites.google.com/a/students.liu.edu.lb/solar-system/
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Fundamental Concepts of the Atom

• Solar system depiction

of atomic structure.
– Emphasizes proton,
neutron and electron
distribution; does not
accurately depict
current accepted
model of atomic
structure.
Subatomic Particles
Scientist and their Important Discovery in Atomic Structure
Scientist Discovery
John Dalton Atom, 3 Fundamental Laws of
Science
J.J Thomson Mass/charge ratio of Electron (-
5.6 x 10-9 g/C) using
CATHODE RAY TUBE
Robert Millikan Charge of electron (-1.602 x 10-19
C) using Oil Drop Experiment
Eugene Goldstein Proton through Canal Ray Tube
James Chadwick Neutrons using α-particle at Be
atom
Ernest Rutherford Nucleus using
Gold Foil Experiment
Electrons
Thomson (1897) discovered the e-:
“Cathode rays”
• Travel from cathode (-) to anode (+).
• Negative charge (e−).
• Emitted by cathode metal atoms.

Electric and magnetic fields deflect the beam.

• Gives mass/charge of e- = −5.60 x 10-9 g/C
• Coulomb (C) = SI unit of charge
Cathode Ray Tube
Millikan (1911) studied electrically-charged oil drops.
Charge on each droplet was:
n (−1.60 x 10-19 C) with n = 1, 2, 3,…
n (e- charge)

Modern value = −1.60217653 x 10-19 C.

= −1 “atomic units”.
mass
These experiments give: me = charge x
charge
= (-1.60 x 10-19 C)(-5.60 x 10-9 g/C) = 8.96 x 10-28 g
Modern value = 9.1093826 x 10-28 g
Note: 1 amu = 1.6605 x 10-24 g
Protons
Atoms gain a positive charge when e- are lost.
Implies a positive fundamental particle.

Hydrogen ions had the lowest mass.

• Hydrogen nuclei assumed to have “unit mass”
• Called protons.

Modern science: mp = 1.67262129 x 10-24 g

mp ≈ 1800 x me.
Charge = -1 x (e- charge).
= +1.602176462 x 10-19 C = +1 atomic units
© 2008 Brooks/Cole
• Eugene Goldstein noted streams of positively charged particles
in cathode rays in 1886.
– Particles move in opposite direction of cathode rays.
– Called “Canal Rays” because they passed through holes
(channels or canals) drilled through the negative electrode.
• Canal rays must be positive.
– Goldstein postulated the existence of a positive
fundamental particle called the “proton”.
Neutrons
Atomic mass > mass of all p+ and e- in an atom.
Rutherford proposed a neutral particle.

Chadwick (1932) fired α-particles at Be atoms. Neutral

particles, neutrons, were ejected:
mn ≈ mp (0.1% larger).
mn = 1.67492728 x 10-24 g.

Present in all atoms (except normal H).

© 2008 Brooks/Cole
The Nucleus
• Ernest Rutherford, 1911
• Bombardment of gold foil with α particles (helium
atoms minus their electrons
– Expected to see the particles pass through the foil
– Found that some of the alpha particles were deflected
by the foil
– Led to the discovery of a region of heavy mass at the
center of the atom