Atomic Structure

1️⃣ What is an Atom?

An atom is the smallest particle of an element that keeps its properties.

 Everything around us (air, water, people, metals) is made of atoms.

 Atoms are very tiny — you cannot see them with normal microscopes.
Structure of an Atom
An atom has three main subatomic particles:

Particle Symbol Charge Location Mass

Proton p⁺ +1 Nucleus 1

Neutron n⁰ 0 Nucleus 1

Electron e⁻ –1 Shells (energy levels) Very small

Nucleus

 Center of the atom.

 Contains protons and neutrons.

 Very small but contains most of the mass.

Electrons

 Move around the nucleus in shells (energy levels).

 Have negative charge.

 Very light compared to protons and neutrons.

Atomic Models
John Dalton’s Atomic Model (1803)
Idea:

 Atoms are solid, indivisible spheres.

 All atoms of the same element are identical.

 Atoms cannot be broken into smaller particles.

Why important?

 First scientific atomic theory.

 Treated atoms like billiard balls.

Limitation:

 Did not explain electricity or subatomic particles.

2️⃣ J. J. Thomson’s Plum Pudding Model (1897)
Idea:

 Atom is a positive sphere.

 Electrons are embedded inside it.

 Like raisins in a pudding.

Discovery:

 He discovered the electron.

Limitation:

 Could not explain results of later experiments.

3️⃣ Ernest Rutherford’s Nuclear Model (1911)

Idea:

 Atom is mostly empty space.

 Small, dense, positively charged nucleus in the center.

 Electrons move around the nucleus.

Based on:

Gold foil experiment.

Limitation:

 Did not explain why electrons don’t fall into nucleus.

4️⃣ Niels Bohr’s Bohr Model (1913)
Idea:

 Electrons move in fixed circular paths called shells.

 Each shell has fixed energy.

 Electrons can jump between shells by gaining or losing energy.

Why very important?

 Explains electron arrangement (2, 8, 8 rule).

 Used in middle school and Grade-8 IB.

5️⃣ Modern Atomic Model (Brief Intro Only)
Based on work of scientists like Erwin Schrödinger.

🔵 Idea:

 Electrons do NOT move in perfect circles.

 They move in probability clouds.

 We cannot know exact position of electrons.

Evolution of Atomic Models

Dalton → Thomson → Rutherford → Bohr → Modern Model

👉 “How did new evidence change the atomic model?”

Quick Comparison Table

Model Main Idea Problem

Dalton Solid sphere No subatomic particles

Thomson Electrons in positive sphere No nucleus

Rutherford Small nucleus No shell explanation

Bohr Fixed energy shells Doesn’t explain complex atoms

Modern Electron cloud Very advanced math

Charges in an Atom
 Protons = positive

 Electrons = negative

 Neutrons = neutral

In a neutral atom:

Number of protons = Number of electrons

So total positive charge = total negative charge.

Atomic Number (Z)

 Atomic number = Number of protons

 It tells us which element it is.

 Example:

o Hydrogen → 1 proton → Atomic number = 1

o Oxygen → 8 protons → Atomic number = 8

Mass Number (A)
Mass number = Protons + Neutrons

Example:

 Carbon has:

o 6 protons

o 6 neutrons

 Mass number = 12

Electron Arrangement (Shells)

Electrons are arranged in shells:

 1st shell → Maximum 2 electrons

  2nd shell → Maximum 8 electrons

 3rd shell → Maximum 8 electrons (Grade 8 level)

Example:

 Sodium (11 electrons)

→ 2, 8, 1

The outermost shell is called the valence shell.

Valence Electrons
 Electrons in the outermost shell.

 Responsible for chemical reactions.

 Atoms react to get a full outer shell.

Example:

 Sodium has 1 valence electron.

 Oxygen has 6 valence electrons.

Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with:

 Same number of protons

 Different number of neutrons

Example:

 Carbon-12 (6 neutrons)

 Carbon-14 (8 neutrons)

They have similar chemical properties but different mass.

Ions (Basic Introduction)

  If atom loses electrons → Positive ion (cation)

 If atom gains electrons → Negative ion (anion)

Example:

 Na → loses 1 electron → Na⁺

 Cl → gains 1 electron → Cl⁻

Why is Atomic Structure Important?

Understanding atomic structure helps us:

 Understand chemical reactions

 Understand bonding

 Understand elements and the periodic table

 Understand electricity and materials

Questions
Section A: MCQs
1️⃣ Which observation from the gold foil experiment led to the nuclear model?
A. All particles passed straight through
B. Some particles were slightly deflected
C. A few particles bounced back
D. The foil melted

2️⃣ An atom has atomic number 12 and mass number 24. How many neutrons does it have?
A. 12
B. 24
C. 6
D. 36

3️⃣ Which model first introduced fixed energy levels?

A. Dalton
B. Thomson
C. Rutherford
D. Bohr

4️⃣ Why is the atom electrically neutral?

A. Neutrons cancel protons
B. Electrons cancel neutrons
C. Protons equal electrons
D. Protons equal neutrons

5️⃣ An element has electron arrangement 2,8,7. It is likely to:

A. Lose 1 electron
B. Gain 1 electron
C. Lose 7 electrons
D. Not react

Section B: Assertion & Reason

1️⃣ Assertion (A): Most of the atom is empty space.
Reason (R): Electrons are much heavier than protons.

A. Both true and R explains A

B. Both true but R does not explain A
C. A true, R false
D. A false, R true

2️⃣ Assertion: Isotopes have similar chemical properties.

Reason: They have same number of protons.

Section C: Fill in the Blanks

1. The center of the atom is called the ________.

2. Atomic number equals the number of ________.

 3. Electrons move in fixed paths in the ________ model.

4. Atoms of the same element with different neutrons are called ________.

5. The outermost shell is called the ________ shell.

Section D: True or False (Correct the False Ones)

1. Protons are negatively charged.

2. Dalton’s model included electrons.

3. Rutherford discovered the nucleus.

4. Mass number = protons + electrons.

5. Valence electrons determine reactivity.

Section E: Short Answer

1️⃣ Why did Thomson’s model fail?

2️⃣ Why do atoms form ions?

3️⃣ Why are isotopes chemically similar but physically different?

4️⃣ Why was Bohr’s model an improvement over Rutherford’s?

5️⃣ Why did Rutherford conclude that the atom is mostly empty space?

Section F: Higher-Order Thinking

1️⃣ Explain how scientific models changed over time using atomic theory as an example.

2️⃣ Compare Rutherford and Bohr models

3️⃣ An atom loses two electrons.

a) What type of ion is formed?
b) Why?

Challenge Question
An element has:

 17 protons

 18 neutrons

 17 electrons

a) Atomic number?
b) Mass number?
c) Is it neutral?
d) What happens if it gains 1 electron?

An atom has:

 12 protons

 12 neutrons

 10 electrons

a) What is its atomic number?

b) What is its mass number?
c) Is it neutral?
d) What type of ion is it? Explain.

Two atoms are given:

Atom A Atom B

8 protons 8 protons

8 neutrons 10 neutrons

8 electrons 8 electrons

a) What are they called?

b) Are their chemical properties same or different? Why?
c) Which one is heavier?

An unknown element has:

  Electron arrangement: 2,8,7

a) How many protons does it have?

b) Is it likely to gain or lose electrons?
c) What type of ion will it form?
d) Why is it reactive?