Atomic Models

Name ______________________
Date ___________

Learning Objectives:
 Understand the history of the atomic models, and use this information to
draw the structure of an atom

Information
Throughout history the model of the atom has changed with each new
discovery.
 Dalton’s Model – shows that an atom is made up of solid particles and cannot
be further broken down.
 Thomson’s Model – the “plum pudding” model; the atom is made up of protons
and electrons that are scattered throughout
 Rutherford’s Model – protons are found in the center of the atom in the
nucleus and electrons are scattered in the empty space that surrounds it
 Bohr’s Model – the “planetary” model; protons and neutrons are found in a
central nucleus and electrons are placed in orbits that circle around the
nucleus at a specific distance.
 Quantum Mechanical Model – electrons are found in a cloud around the
nucleus; their location around the nucleus is defined by probability

Label the models (Dalton, Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr, or Quantum Mechanical

model) according to their description.

___________ ___________ __________

___________ __________

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History Behind the Models:
Dalton came up with the theory that described atoms in five postulates.
The first stated that all elements are composed of tiny indivisible particles called
atoms that cannot be broken down further. Second, atoms of a given element are
all similar in their physical and chemical properties. Third, atoms of different
elements differ in their physical and chemical properties. Atoms of different
elements combine in simple, whole number ratios to form compounds. Lastly, in
chemical reactions, atoms are combined, separated, or rearranged, but never
created, destroyed, or changed. Dalton’s model summarizes these principles by
showing that an atom is made up of solid, indivisible particles.
Using a cathode ray tube, Sir Joseph Thomson discovered the electron. A
cathode ray tube is composed of an cathode or negative electrode and a anode or
positive electrode inside of an evacuated glass container. Thomson applied a
charge to the cathode ray and observed the flow of electrons from cathode to
anode through the open space of the container. These observations changed the
way that atoms were portrayed since it was now determined that atoms could be
further broken down. Thomson’s model shows electrons scattered throughout an
atom that is mostly a positively-charged cloud.

In 1911, the model of the atom changed once again after Ernest Rutherford
discovered the nucleus. By aiming alpha particles (radiation from the nuclei of
helium) at a thin sheet of gold foil, Rutherford determined that protons are
located in a concentrated area in the atom, and the electrons are dispersed in the
empty space around it. His observations of deflected alpha particles and particles
that traveled straight through the gold sheet showed that protons and electrons
were not evenly dispersed. This means that Thomson’s model was no longer
correct, and that protons were found in a dense area of the atom called the
nucleus. Electrons, on the other hand, are found in the empty space around the
atom.

2
 As Rutherford’s model of the atom was being analyzed, it predicted that,
according to the theory of electricity and magnetism, opposite charges attract
each other and will therefore cause the electrons to lose energy and spiral inward
toward the nucleus. In 1912, Niels Bohr came up with a theory that explained why
electrons do not spiral inward. He stated that electrons follow two rules. The
first being that electrons orbit at specific distances from the nucleus. In other
words, all electrons can be found at a certain distance from the nucleus in an
orbital. Second, atoms radiate energy when an electron jumps from a higher-
energy orbit to a lower-energy orbit, and absorbs energy when the electron gets
boosted from a low-energy orbit to a high-energy orbit. This model is known as the
planetary model since the electrons are orbiting around the nucleus much like the
planets orbit around the sun. The first orbital only holds two electrons. Orbital
two can hold up to eight electrons, and orbital three can hold up to eighteen
electrons, and orbital four and higher can hold up to thirty-two electrons.
Fifteen years passed before another model of the atom was put into the
mix. The next model, the quantum mechanical model, is a mathematical model that
predicts the probability of electron locations and paths within an electron cloud.
This model resulted from scientists such as deBroglie, Schrödinger, and
Heisenberg. These scientists started to look at electrons acting as both particles
and waves, and determined that there can be no certainty in finding the position of
an electron if you know the momentum at which it travels. This led to the idea of
electrons existing in an electron cloud, and hence came the quantum mechanical
model.

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Answer the following questions using the information about each scientist.
Even though new models were discovered after Dalton created his five principles,
which of these principles still holds true?

What is the charge of an electron? In Thomson’s experiment the electrons

traveled from the cathode, the negative electrode, toward the anode, the positive
electrode. Why did this happen?

Explain why Rutherford’s discovery discredited Thomson’s model. What aspect(s)

of Thomson’s model were disproved?

Why is Bohr’s model called the “planetary model”?

Draw models from each scientist for the following elements. (Hint: refer to
models on page 1)

Example:
Boron:
Atomic #:__5___ # Protons:__5___ # Electrons:___5___

Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr

Quantum Mech

4
Helium:
Atomic #:______ # Protons:______ # Electrons:_______

Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr Quantum Mech

Sodium:
Atomic #:______ # Protons:______ # Electrons:_______

Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr Quantum Mech

Oxygen:
Atomic #:______ # Protons:______ # Electrons:_______

Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr Quantum Mech

Carbon:
Atomic #:______ # Protons:______ # Electrons:_______

Dalton Thomson Rutherford Bohr Quantum Mech

5
Answer the following.
Of the five different models, which model do you think is the most useful for
learning about the structures of atoms? Why?

Of the five different models, which model do you think is most accepted today?
Why?