CLASS 9 SCIENCE TEST
Chapter 8: Journey Inside the Atom
Total Marks: 25 | Time: 45 minutes
Instructions:
• All questions are compulsory.
• Write answers in your own words.
• Draw diagrams where necessary.
Section A: 1 Mark Questions (6 x 1 = 6 marks)
1. Who discovered the electron?
2. What is the charge on a proton?
3. Name the scientist who proposed that atoms are indivisible.
4. Which scientist proposed the nuclear model of the atom?
5. Define an isotope.
6. Where is the mass of an atom concentrated?
Section B: 2 Mark Questions (4 x 2 = 8 marks)
7. Describe Thomson's model of the atom. Why is it called the plum pudding model?
[ 2 marks ]
8. What are the three main subatomic particles? Write their symbols and charges.
[ 2 marks ]
9. State Dalton's atomic theory. What limitations did it have?
[ 2 marks ]
10. Draw Bohr's model of an atom with at least two shells. Label the nucleus and electrons.
[ 2 marks ]
Section C: 3 Mark Questions (3 x 3 = 9 marks)
11. Describe Rutherford's gold foil experiment. What were his main observations and
conclusions?
[ 3 marks ]
12. Compare Thomson's atomic model with Rutherford's atomic model. How did Rutherford's
experiment disprove Thomson's model?
[ 3 marks ]
13. Define the terms: atomic number, mass number, and valency. How are they related to the
arrangement of electrons?
[ 3 marks ]
Section D: 5 Mark Questions (1 x 5 = 5 marks)
14. Write short notes on the evolution of atomic models. Describe the contributions of Dalton,
Thomson, Rutherford, and Bohr to our understanding of atomic structure. How did each model
improve upon the previous one?
[ 5 marks ]
ANSWER KEY
Section A (1 mark each):
1. J.J. Thomson discovered the electron (1897).
2. The charge on a proton is +1 (or positive charge equal to 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs).
3. John Dalton proposed that atoms are indivisible (according to Dalton's atomic theory).
4. Ernest Rutherford proposed the nuclear model of the atom (1911).
5. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number but different
mass numbers (different number of neutrons).
6. The mass of an atom is concentrated in the nucleus.
Section B (2 marks each):
Q.7 Answer:
Thomson's model proposed that atoms consist of a sphere of positive charge with electrons
embedded throughout, like plums in a pudding. The 'pudding' represents the positive charge
distributed uniformly throughout the atom, and the 'plums' represent the negatively charged
electrons scattered throughout. This was the first model to show that atoms have internal
structure and are made up of smaller subatomic particles. However, it could not explain why
positive charge was distributed evenly.
Q.8 Answer:
The three main subatomic particles are:
1. Proton (symbol p⁺) - charge: +1
2. Electron (symbol e⁻) - charge: -1
3. Neutron (symbol n⁰) - charge: 0 (neutral)
Q.9 Answer:
Dalton's Atomic Theory states: (1) All matter is made of tiny, indivisible particles called atoms;
(2) Atoms of the same element are identical; (3) Atoms of different elements have different
properties; (4) Atoms combine in simple whole number ratios to form compounds; (5) During
chemical reactions, atoms are rearranged but not created or destroyed.
Limitations: (1) Atoms are actually divisible (contain protons, neutrons, and electrons); (2) Not
all atoms of the same element have the same mass (isotopes exist); (3) Atoms can be created
or destroyed in nuclear reactions.
Q.10 Answer:
Diagram should show: Small nucleus at center (labeled nucleus containing protons and
neutrons), two or more circular shells/orbits around it, electrons placed on the shells (K-shell
can have max 2, L-shell can have max 8). Accept any clear diagram with proper labels.
Section C (3 marks each):
Q.11 Answer:
Rutherford's Gold Foil Experiment (1909):
Procedure: Alpha particles (positively charged) were fired at a thin sheet of gold foil. A zinc
sulfide screen was placed behind the foil to detect the deflected particles.
Observations: (1) Most alpha particles passed straight through the foil without deflection; (2) A
few alpha particles were deflected at various angles; (3) A small number of alpha particles
bounced back (deflected more than 90 degrees).
Conclusions: (1) Most of the atom is empty space (since most particles pass through); (2) There
is a dense, positively charged nucleus at the center (causing particles to bounce back); (3) The
nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom (since only a few particles hit it).
Q.12 Answer:
Thomson's Model: Atom is a sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded throughout
(like plums in pudding). Positive charge is distributed evenly.
Rutherford's Model: Atom has a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at the center with
electrons revolving around it. Most of the atom is empty space.
How Rutherford's experiment disproved Thomson's model: Thomson's model predicted that
positive charge is distributed evenly, so all alpha particles should pass through with little or no
deflection. However, Rutherford's experiment showed that some particles were deflected
sharply and some even bounced back. This could only be explained if the positive charge was
concentrated in a small nucleus at the center, not spread throughout the atom. Therefore,
Thomson's model was wrong.
Q.13 Answer:
Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It determines the identity of
an element (all atoms of the same element have the same atomic number). Represented by 'Z'.
Mass Number: The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Represented by 'A'. Formula: A = Z + number of neutrons.
Valency: The number of electrons in the outermost shell of an atom (or the number of electrons
lost, gained, or shared during chemical bonding). It determines the chemical properties and the
number of bonds an atom can form.
Relationship: Atomic number tells us how many electrons are in the atom. These electrons are
arranged in shells according to Bohr's model. The arrangement of electrons (especially in the
outermost shell) determines the valency and chemical properties of the element.
Section D (5 marks):
Q.14 Answer:
Evolution of Atomic Models:
1. DALTON'S ATOMIC THEORY (1808):
- Proposed that all matter is made of indivisible atoms
- Atoms of same element are identical; atoms of different elements are different
- Atoms combine in simple ratios to form compounds
- Explained the laws of chemical combination
- Limitation: Could not explain where positive and negative charges come from
2. THOMSON'S MODEL (1898):
- Discovered the electron through cathode ray experiments
- Proposed that atoms contain negatively charged electrons
- Proposed the 'plum pudding' model (positive charge sphere with electrons embedded)
- Improvement: Showed atoms are divisible and have internal structure
- Limitation: Could not explain how positive charge is arranged in the atom
3. RUTHERFORD'S MODEL (1911):
- Conducted the gold foil experiment
- Discovered the nucleus - a small, dense, positively charged center
- Proposed that electrons revolve around the nucleus in orbits
- Improvement: Explained the concentration of positive charge in nucleus; atoms are mostly
empty space
- Limitation: Could not explain atomic stability (electrons should crash into nucleus according
to physics)
4. BOHR'S MODEL (1913):
- Proposed that electrons exist in definite energy levels or shells
- Electrons can only jump between allowed orbits by absorbing or releasing energy
- Electrons cannot exist between shells
- Improvement: Explained atomic stability and the spectrum of hydrogen
- This model is still used today in introductory chemistry
How Each Model Improved: Each scientist used experimental evidence to improve the model.
Thomson's discovery of electrons showed atoms are divisible. Rutherford's experiment revealed
the nucleus exists. Bohr's quantum theory explained why atoms don't collapse. Science
progresses through observation, experimentation, and refinement of ideas based on new
evidence.
(Marking: Dalton's contribution = 1 mark, Thomson's contribution = 1 mark, Rutherford's
contribution = 1.5 marks, Bohr's contribution = 1 mark, Understanding of
progression/improvement = 0.5 marks)