1.6.1
Fundamental Particles
History of Atomic Theory
History of Atomic Theory
Our understanding of atoms has changed over time. Important models were developed by John Dalton, J.J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, and Niels Bohr.


John Dalton
John Dalton
- John Dalton was an English schoolteacher, who first wrote that atoms were the basic unit of chemistry.
- He thought that atoms were spherical, and different spheres constituted different elements.
- Dalton thought atoms were the fundamental unit of matter and were indivisible.


J.J. Thomson
J.J. Thomson
- 90 years after Dalton's ideas, J.J. Thomson discovered that atoms were divisible.
- Thompson discovered and measured the mass of, the electron.
- The electron was measured to be several orders of magnitude lighter than an atom, proving that smaller particles than atoms existed.
- This lead to the plum pudding model, where the atom was viewed to be a large positively charged sphere, with embedded smaller, negatively charged, electrons.
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%201.1.3.2%20-%20atomic%20structure,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford
- Ernest Rutherford fired alpha particles at a thin film of gold.
- Were the plum pudding model true, the particles would have been deflected by the gold.
- Instead, most particles passed straight through the film.
- This led to the nuclear model, where the atom was viewed as being mostly empty space, with a positive nucleus and orbiting electrons.


Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr
- The nuclear model had a problem; classically, an electron should spiral into the nucleus, and atoms should collapse.
- Niels Bohr solved this problem by developing the first quantum theory of the atom, with electrons assigned to fixed orbits of defined energy.
- When electrons move between orbits, they must emit or absorb electromagnetic radiation of a particular frequency.
Subatomic Particles
Subatomic Particles
Atoms are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. These different subatomic particles have different properties.
 2.4.1.1 - Surface area to volume ratio-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
 2.4.1.1 - Surface area to volume ratio-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Units
Units
- Subatomic particles are so small that conventional SI units aren't very useful.
- For example, a proton weighs 1.6726219 × 10-27kg - this is not a nice number to use!
- We define certain units for use with atoms - the atomic mass unit (amu) is defined as one twelfth the mass of a single carbon-12 atom.
- The elementary charge unit (e) is equal to the charge on an electron.


Protons
Protons
- A proton has a mass of 1.0073amu.
- It has a charge of +1e.
 1.1.3.2 - atomic structure-min (1),h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
 1.1.3.2 - atomic structure-min (1),h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Neutrons
Neutrons
- A neutron has a mass of 1.0087amu.
- A neutron has no electric charge.
- A neutron is very slightly heavier than a proton, but the difference is so small we often take the masses to be the same, and equal to 1amu.
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-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Electrons
Electrons
- An electron has a charge of -1e.
- The mass of an electron is so small it is usually approximated to zero.
- The mass of an electron is approximately 0.00055amu.
Subatomic Particles
Subatomic Particles
Atoms are made of a nucleus and shells of electrons.
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-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Nucleus
Nucleus
- The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons.
- Most of the mass of an atom is in the nucleus.
- The nucleus is positively charged.
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-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Electron shells
Electron shells
- Electron shells are further split into sub-shells.
- Each sub-shell has a slightly different energy.
- Electron shells occupy most of the space of the atom.
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
Jump to other topics
1Structure - Models of the Particulate of Matter
1.1Introduction to the Particulate Model of Matter
1.2The Nuclear Atom
1.3Electron Configuration
1.4Counting Particles by Mass: The Mole
1.6Elements, Compounds & Mixtures
1.7States of Matter & Changes of State
1.8Reacting Masses &. Volumes
1.9Solutions
2Structure - Models of Bonding & Structure
2.1The Ionic Model
2.2The Covalent Model
2.3Covalent Structures
2.4The Metallic Model
2.5From Models to Materials
2.6Valence Electrons & Ionic Compounds
2.7Molecular Shape
3Structure - Classification of Matter
3.1The Periodic Table: Classification of Elements
3.2Periodic Trends
3.3Group 1 Alkali Metals
3.4Halogens
3.5Noble gases, group 18
3.6Functional Groups: Classification of Organic
3.7Functional Group Chemistry
3.8Alkanes
3.9Alcohols
4Reactivity - What Drives Chemical Reaction?
4.1Endothermic & Exothermic Reactions
4.2Enthalpy of Reaction, Formation, & Hess' Law
5Reactivity - How Much, How Fast & How Far?
5.1Kinetics
5.2Rates of Reaction
5.3Stoichometry
5.4Le Châtelier’s Principle
5.5Introduction to Equilibrium
5.6Equilibrium Constant
5.7Reaction Quotient & Equilibrium Constant
6Reactivity - The Mechanisms of Chemical Change
6.1Proton Transfer Reactions
6.2The pH Scale
6.3Strong & Weak Acids and Bases
6.4Acid Deposition
6.5Types of Organic Reactions
6.6Oxidation & Reduction
6.7Electrochemical Cells
6.9Acid-Base Titrations
6.9.1Titration Calculation Weak Acid & Strong Base
6.9.2Titration Experimental Detail
6.9.3Extended Response - Titration
6.9.4Titration Calculations
6.9.5Titration Curves
6.9.6Titration Calculation Strong Acid & Weak Base
6.9.7IB Multiple Choice - Titrations
6.9.8Polyprotic Acids
6.9.9Titration Calculations Strong Acid & Strong Base
6.9.10Titrations Curves 2
7Measurement, Data Processing & Analysis
7.1Uncertainties & Errors in Measurements & Results
7.2Graphical Techniques
7.3Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds
7.4Infrared Spectroscpy
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