Scribd
Upload
475 views

The Development of Atomic Theory: Chapter 11 Section 1

Outline of material obtained from: Holt Science and Technology: Physical Science. New York: Henry Holt & Co, 2007. Print.

Uploaded by

thegedus
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
475 views

The Development of Atomic Theory: Chapter 11 Section 1

Outline of material obtained from: Holt Science and Technology: Physical Science. New York: Henry Holt & Co, 2007. Print.

Uploaded by

thegedus
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 18

The Development of Atomic

Theory

CHAPTER 11 SECTION 1
Objectives

Describe some of the experiments that led to the


current atomic theory

Compare the different models of the atom

Explain how the atomic theory has changed as


scientists have discovered new information about the
atom
Consider this quote…

“Color exists by convention, sweet by convention,


bitter by convention; in reality nothing exists but
atoms and the void.”

 What do you think this statement means?

 Who wrote it?


The Beginning of the Atomic Theory

Ideas about atoms have changed over time

Democritus (Greek philosopher 460-370BCE): All


phenomena in nature could be understood in terms
of the movement of particles called atoms.

Greek word atomos meaning “not able to be divided”

Atoms are small, hard particles, made of a single


material formed into different shapes & sizes
Democritus

Ideas sharply contrasted those of Aristotle who


thought that all matter could only be reduced to a
combination of: earth, water, air, and fire

Only fragments of Democritus’ writings survived

http://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/Democritus.jpg
The Atom

The smallest particle into which an element can be


divided and still be the same substance

http://www.scienceclarified.com/images/uesc_02_img0063.jpg
Dalton’s Atomic Theory

Late 1700’s: elements combine in certain


proportions based on mass to form compounds

Dalton experimented with different substances

In 1803, Dalton published his atomic theory


 All substances are made of atoms
 Atoms of the same element are exactly alike
 Atoms join with other atoms to make new substances

*The modern atomic theory began to develop from here…


Thomson’s Discovery of Electrons

In 1897, Thomson pointed out errors in Dalton’s


theory…

There are small particles inside an atom

Experimented with a cathode-ray tube


 Positively charged plate attracted the beam
 Negatively charged particles called electrons are present in
every kind of atom
Thomson’s Cathode-Ray Tube

http://www.hcc.mnscu.edu/chem/abomb/Thomson_ExpBoth.jpg
Thomson’s Plum Pudding Model

New model for atoms containing electrons

“Like plums in pudding”

https://reich-chemistry.wikispaces.com/file/view/Thomson1.jpg
New ideas: Rutherford’s Atomic “Shooting
Gallery”

In 1909, Rutherford tested Thomson’s theory

He designed an experiment to study the parts of an


atom

Gold-foil experiment
 Aimed a beam of positively charged particles at a gold foil
 A special coating behind the foil glowed
 Particles were deflected unexpectedly
Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment

http://www.wardfam.com/~marshall/Chapter%203/Chapter%203_files/image004.jpg
Where are the electrons?

In 1911, Rutherford revised the atomic theory

The center of the atom is tiny, very dense, positively


charged: nucleus

He calculated that the diameter of the nucleus was


about 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of
the gold atom

http://faculty.virginia.edu/consciousness/images/rutherford%20model.gif
Bohr’s Electron Levels

In 1913, Niels Bohr studied the way that atoms react
to light

Electrons move around the nucleus in certain paths


or energy levels

http://www.humanthermodynamics.com/Atom_diagram.jpg
Cartoon humor…

http://www.cs.utah.edu/~draperg/cartoons/jb/bohring.gif
Modern Atomic Theory

20th century scientists: Schrödinger & Heisenberg

Further explained the nature of electrons in the atom

Electrons do not travel in definite paths as Bohr


suggested

Path of an electron cannot be predicted


 “electron clouds”
Electron-Cloud Model

http://www.csmate.colostate.edu/cltw/cohortpages/viney_off/atom.jpg
Quick Quiz

What error did Thompson find in Dalton’s atomic


theory?

What is the name for Thompson’s model of the


atom?

What is the current model of the atom called?

You might also like