Historical Models of the Atom Flashcards

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What did John Dalton's model say about atoms?

Atoms are tiny, solid spheres. Each element has its own type of atom.

Which particle did J. J. Thomson discover in 1897?

The electron, a small particle with a negative charge.

What is the plum pudding model of the atom?

A ball of positive charge with electrons stuck in it. There is no nucleus.

In Rutherford's gold foil test, what happened to most alpha particles?

They passed straight through the thin gold foil. This showed atoms are mostly empty space.

What did the few alpha particles that bounced back show?

There is a tiny, dense, positive nucleus where most mass is.

What is the nuclear model of the atom?

A small positive nucleus in the centre with electrons around it. Most of the atom is empty space.

What did Niels Bohr propose about electrons?

Electrons move in fixed orbits, called energy levels or shells, around the nucleus.

Why do electrons not fall into the nucleus in Bohr's model?

They are in fixed energy levels, so they stay in place unless they change level.

What did James Chadwick discover in 1932?

The neutron, a neutral particle in the nucleus. It explained the missing mass and isotopes.

What is the correct order of the main atomic models?

Dalton, then Thomson, then Rutherford, then Bohr, then Chadwick's neutron.