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Evolution+of+the+Atomic+Model Handout

The document outlines the evolution of the atomic model from Democritus's concept of indivisible particles called 'atomos' to modern quantum mechanical models. Key developments include Dalton's billiard ball model, Thomson's plum pudding model introducing electrons, Rutherford's nuclear model with protons, Bohr's planetary model with fixed electron orbits, and Schrödinger's quantum mechanical model emphasizing electron probability and wave-particle duality. Each model contributed to the understanding of atomic structure and behavior over time.

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Jorwin Ace Barrientos
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27 views

Evolution+of+the+Atomic+Model Handout

The document outlines the evolution of the atomic model from Democritus's concept of indivisible particles called 'atomos' to modern quantum mechanical models. Key developments include Dalton's billiard ball model, Thomson's plum pudding model introducing electrons, Rutherford's nuclear model with protons, Bohr's planetary model with fixed electron orbits, and Schrödinger's quantum mechanical model emphasizing electron probability and wave-particle duality. Each model contributed to the understanding of atomic structure and behavior over time.

Uploaded by

Jorwin Ace Barrientos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EVOLUTION OF THE ATOMIC MODEL

Atomos (Democritus) 400 BCE

The very first model of the atom was attributed


to the Greek philosopher Democritus in 400
BCE. Democritus proposed that all matter is
made up of tiny, indivisible particles called
“atomos”, which means "uncuttable" in Greek.
He suggested that these atoms were solid,
indestructible, and varied in shape and size
depending on the material.

Billiard ball model (John Dalton) 1803

John Dalton proposed that everything is made


up of tiny indestructible spheres; similar to that
of Democritus. The difference is that Dalton
believes that the shape and mass of an atom
remains the same in an element, and each
element has a different atom.
Nuclear model (Ernest Rutherford) 1911

Rutherford introduced another subatomic


particle; the proton. Rutherford stated that the
atom has a small dense nucleus of positive
charge which is orbited by electrons. The
electrons in the nuclear model does not follow
a fixed path. Rutherford not only introduced
the positively charged subatomic particle
(protons), he also introduced the nucleus as
the center of the atom.

Plum pudding model (J.J. Thomson) 1904

Thomson introduced the electron to the atomic


model. Thomson proposed that the atom
contains negatively charged spheres
(electrons) that are surrounded by a spherical
cloud of positive charge. He then went on to
call it the plum pudding model because of its
appearance resembling a plum pudding. This
is also the first model that had a subatomic
particle and charge, which then disproved the
idea that atoms are indivisible.

Prepared by: Sir Ace


EVOLUTION OF THE ATOMIC MODEL

Bohr’s/Planetary model (Niels Bohr) 1913

Bohr’s model has some similarities with


Rutherford’s model, it also has a positively
charged nucleus that is orbited by electrons.
The difference is that Bohr’s model stated that
the electrons orbit in a fixed circular path
around the nucleus, he also added that there
are different energy levels where electrons
orbit (electron shell). Bohr introduced the idea
that electrons can only occupy specific energy
levels and can jump between these levels by
absorbing or emitting a quantum of energy.

Quantum mechanical model (Erwin


Schrödinger) 1926

Schrödinger proposed that cannot pinpoint the


exact location of electrons in an atom, but we
can predict where they could be. The quantum
mechanical model of the atom does not use
electron shells, but it uses orbitals. The model
also introduced electron spins, the model also
introduced that the electrons don’t exclusively
act as particles, but also as waves, this is
explained by wave-particle duality.

Prepared by: Sir Ace


EVOLUTION OF THE ATOMIC MODEL

Summary Additional resources for learning

The first model of the atom was proposed by You may watch these videos to learn more
Democritus, he referred to it as “atomos” which about the evolution of the atomic model.
meant uncuttable. The atomos varied in shape
and size depending on which material they are
found. John Dalton proposed the idea of the
billiard ball model of the atom. The billiard ball
model states that the shape of the atom is
uniformly spherical. The billiard ball model
does not contain any subatomic particle. J.J.
Thomson proposed the third model of the
atom, he called it the plum pudding model. The
plum pudding model was the first atomic
model to have a subatomic particle and
charge. The electron was present in the plum https://youtu.be/9B3DDY27ZtE?si=yTrRueHB
pudding model, it was surrounded by a cloud MLaGqC7Y
of positive charge. The model stated that the
atom was neutral in charge. The nuclear
model was proposed by Ernest Rutherford. He
stated that the positive charge of the atom was
concentrated in the middle of the atom.
Rutherford referred to the positively charged
region of the atom as the nucleus where we
can find the proton. Electrons do not follow a
fixed path when orbiting the proton. Niels Bohr
introduced another model of the atom; the
Bohr’s model or the planetary model. The
model adds the neutron to the nucleus of the
atom. The electrons orbit in a circular path with
different energy levels; the path is called the https://youtu.be/v48u8hjqNBU?si=nXfYNviXZU
electron shell. Erwin Schrödinger proposed the n8U4db
quantum mechanical model. He said that
electrons don't orbit the nucleus in fixed paths.
Instead, they exist orbitals, where there’s a
chance of finding them. Electrons exhibit both
wave-like and particle behavior because of
wave-particle duality. The nucleus remains the
same with that of the planetary/Bohr’s model.

Prepared by: Sir Ace

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