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Science Holiday Homework

Summary of the chapter “Structure of an Atom”

Atomic Theories: A Journey Through Time

The idea of atoms has evolved over thousands of years. Let's explore the atomic theories
proposed by four important scientists: Democritus, Dalton, Thomson, and Rutherford.

1. Democritus (c. 460 – c. 370 BC)

Explanation:
Democritus was a Greek philosopher who first suggested that everything in the world is
made up of tiny, indivisible particles called "atoms." He believed that these atoms were the
smallest pieces of matter and that they were constantly moving. Democritus thought that
different types of atoms had different shapes and sizes, which determined the properties of
the materials they made up.

Example:
Imagine a Lego structure. Each Lego piece represents an atom. You can build different
structures with different pieces, and different atoms combine to form everything around you.

2. John Dalton (1766 – 1844)

Explanation:
John Dalton was an English scientist who built on Democritus's ideas in the early 1800s.
He proposed a more scientific approach to atoms. Dalton's atomic theory included several
key points:
● All elements are composed (made up) of atoms. It is impossible to divide
or destroy an atom.
● All atoms of the same elements are alike. (One atom of oxygen is like
another atom of oxygen.)
● Atoms of different elements are different. (An atom of oxygen is different
from an atom of hydrogen.)
● Atoms of different elements combine to form a compound. These atoms
have to be in definite whole number ratios. For example, water is a
compound made up of 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen (a ratio
 of 2:1).
● Three atoms of hydrogen and 2 atoms of oxygen cannot combine to make
water.

Example:
Think of Dalton's theory like a recipe. If you have a recipe for cookies (a compound), you
need specific ingredients (atoms) in certain amounts. If you change the ingredients or their
amounts, you get a different treat!

3. J.J. Thomson (1856 – 1940)

Explanation:
J.J. Thomson was a British scientist who discovered the electron in 1897. He proposed a
new model of the atom called the "plum pudding model." In this model, he suggested that
atoms are made of a positively charged "pudding" with negatively charged electrons (like
plums) scattered throughout. If you don't know what plum pudding is, think of a chocolate
chip cookie. Example:
Imagine a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie dough represents the positive part of the
atom, and the chocolate chips represent the electrons. The chips are spread throughout the
dough, just like electrons are spread throughout the atom.

4. Ernest Rutherford (1871 – 1937)

Explanation:
Ernest Rutherford was a New Zealand scientist who conducted experiments in the early
1900s that led to a new understanding of the atom. He discovered that atoms have a small,
dense center called the nucleus, which contains most of the atom's mass. The nucleus is
positively charged, and electrons orbit around it, similar to how planets orbit the sun.

Example:
Think of an atom like a solar system. The nucleus is the sun at the center, and the
electrons are like planets orbiting around it. Most of the space in an atom is empty, just like
there is a lot of empty space between the planets in our solar system.

Conclusion

The journey of atomic theory shows how our understanding of matter has changed over
time. From Democritus's idea of indivisible atoms to Rutherford's discovery of the nucleus,
each scientist contributed to our current understanding of what atoms are and how they
behave. This knowledge is fundamental to chemistry and helps us understand the world
around us!

Understanding Atoms: Neutrality, Mass, and Chemical Properties

Atoms are the building blocks of all matter around us. They are incredibly small and consist
of three main particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. In this resource, we will explore
how atoms are electrically neutral, differentiate between atomic mass and atomic number,
and understand how an atom's structure relates to its chemical properties. We will also look
at the role of electrostatic attraction in holding atoms together.

How Atoms are Electrically Neutral

An atom is considered electrically neutral when the number of protons equals the number
of electrons.

- Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus (the center) of the atom.
- Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit around the nucleus.

Example:
- In a carbon atom, there are 6 protons and 6 electrons. The positive charge of the protons
(+6) cancels out the negative charge of the electrons (-6), making the atom neutral overall.

If an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes charged and is called an ion. For instance, if
a sodium atom (which has 11 protons and 11 electrons) loses one electron, it becomes a
positively charged ion (Na⁺) because it now has more protons than electrons.

Differentiating Atomic Mass and Atomic Number

Atomic Number
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It is
unique to each element and determines the element's identity. If you observe the periodic
table, every element is given a specific number. That number tells us how many protons
that element has and that is also called “Atomic Number”

- Example: The atomic number of hydrogen is 1 (1 proton), while the atomic number of
oxygen is 8 (8 protons).

Atomic Mass
The atomic mass is total sum of number of protons plus number of neutrons in an atom.
Carbon has 6 proton and 6 neutrons, so it has atomic mass of 12. Electrons are very light
weight and not counted in the total mass.

- Example: The atomic mass of carbon is approximately 12 amu, which includes 6 protons
and 6 neutrons.

Summary Table

Property Definition Example

Atomic Number of protons in an atom Hydrogen: 1

Number

Atomic Mass Average mass of an atom (protons + neutrons) Carbon: 12

amu

If an atomic symbol is written like the one below. The smaller number is atomic number,
and it indicates the number of proton that atom has. Larger number is atomic mass, and it
is the sum of protons and neutrons in that atom.
 In this example, Lithium has 3 ptotons and its atomic number is 3. Atomic mass is 7 which is
protons and neutrons combined. As we know that atoms are neutral, which means number of
poitive charges (protons) and number of negative charges (electrons) has to be the same. SO if
Lithium has 3 protons, it means it has 3 electrons as well which will make it neutral. Now we have to
calculate the number of neutrons in that atom. We will subtract atomic number from atomic mass
which will give us number of neutrons in that atom. 7-3= 4. Lithium has 3 protons, 3 electrons and 4
neutrons.

Examples of Atomic Numbers and Mass Numbers

1. Oxygen (O)
- Atomic Number: 8 (8 protons)
- Mass Number: 16 (8 protons + 8 neutrons)

2. Iron (Fe)
- Atomic Number: 26 (26 protons)
- Mass Number: 56 (26 protons + 30 neutrons)

3. Uranium (U)
- Atomic Number: 92 (92 protons)
- Mass Number: 238 (92 protons + 146 neutrons)

Chemical Properties and Atomic Structure

The chemical properties of an element are closely linked to its atomic structure, particularly
the arrangement of electrons.

- Atoms with the same number of valence (outermost) electrons often exhibit similar
chemical behaviours. For example, elements in the same group of the periodic table (like
the alkali metals) react similarly because they have one electron in their outer shell.

Example:
- Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) both have one electron in their outer shell, making them
highly reactive and similar in their chemical properties.
Electrostatic Attraction: The Glue of Atoms

The forces that hold atoms together are due to electrostatic attraction. This attraction
occurs between positively charged protons in the nucleus and negatively charged electrons
surrounding the nucleus.

- This attraction keeps the electrons in orbit around the nucleus, preventing them from
flying away.

Example:
- Think of protons as tiny magnets that attract electrons. Just like how magnets pull towards
each other, protons pull electrons towards the nucleus, creating a stable atom.

Conclusion

In summary, atoms are electrically neutral when they have equal numbers of protons and
electrons. The atomic number tells us how many protons are in an atom, while the atomic
mass gives us an average of the total mass (protons + neutrons). The structure of an atom,
especially the arrangement of electrons, determines its chemical properties. Finally, the
electrostatic attraction between positive and negative charges is what keeps atoms stable
and together. Understanding these concepts is fundamental to the study of chemistry and
the behavior of matter.