Atomic Theory
Atomic Theory
Atomic Theory
Atomic Models
• This model of the atom
may look familiar to
you. This is the Bohr
model. In this model,
the nucleus is orbited
by electrons, which are
in different energy
levels.
– A model uses familiar ideas to
explain unfamiliar facts observed
in nature.
• A model can be changed as new
information is collected.
• The atomic model
has changed
throughout the
centuries, starting
in 400 BC, when it
looked like a
billiard ball →
Who are these men?
Democritus
• This is the Greek
philosopher Democritus
who began the search for a
description of matter more
than 2400 years ago.
– He asked: Could matter
be divided into smaller
and smaller pieces
forever, or was there a
limit to the number of
times a piece of matter
could be divided?
400 BC
Atomos
• His theory: Matter could
not be divided into smaller
and smaller pieces forever,
eventually the smallest
possible piece would be
obtained.
• This piece would be
indivisible.
• He named the smallest
piece of matter “atomos,”
meaning “not to be cut.”
Atomos
▪ To Democritus, atoms
were small, hard
particles that were all
made of the same
material but were
different shapes and
sizes.
▪ Atoms were infinite in
number, always moving
and capable of joining
together.
This theory was ignored and
forgotten for more than 2000
years!
Why?
• The eminent
philosophers of
the time,
Aristotle and
Plato, had a
more
respected, (and
ultimately Aristotle and Plato favored the earth, fire, air
wrong) theory. and water approach to the nature of matter.
Their ideas held sway because of their
eminence as philosophers. The atomos idea
was buried for approximately 2000 years.
Dalton’s Model
• In the early 1800s,
the English Chemist
John Dalton
performed a number
of experiments that
eventually led to the
acceptance of the
idea of atoms.
Dalton’s Theory
• He deduced that all elements
are composed of atoms.
Atoms are indivisible and
indestructible particles.
• Atoms of the same element
are exactly alike.
• Atoms of different elements
are different.
• Compounds are formed by
the joining of atoms of two or
more elements.
.
• This theory
became one of
the
foundations of
modern
chemistry.
Thomson’s Plum Pudding Model
• In 1897, the
English scientist
J.J. Thomson
provided the first
hint that an atom
is made of even
smaller particles.
Thomson Model
• He proposed a
model of the atom
that is sometimes
called the “Plum
Pudding” model.
• Atoms were made
from a positively
charged substance
with negatively
charged electrons
scattered about, like
raisins in a pudding.
Thomson Model
• Thomson studied
the passage of an
electric current
through a gas.
• As the current
passed through
the gas, it gave off
rays of negatively
charged particles.
Thomson Model
Where did
they come
• This surprised from?
Thomson, because
the atoms of the
gas were
uncharged. Where
had the negative
charges come
from?
Thomson concluded that the
negative charges came from within
the atom.