Structure of Atoms

Structure of Atoms
Electron, Proton and Neutron:
Electron was discovered by J. J. Thomson in 1897 when he was studying the properties of
cathode ray in Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) experiment. Electrons are negatively charged particles
with charge-to-mass ratio −1.76×108 C/gm. The charge of an electron was measured by R.
Millikan in Oil drop experiment. Charge of an electron is −1.60×10 −19 C. Mass of an electron is
9.1×10−28 gram. Electron is approximately 2000 times lighter than hydrogen.
In 1909, Rutherford discovered proton in his famous gold foil experiment. Gold Foil Experiment
In his gold foil experiment, Rutherford bombarded a beam of alpha particles on an ultrathin gold
foil and then detected the scattered alpha particles in zinc sulfide (ZnS) screen. Most of the
particles pass through the foil without any deflection. Some of the alpha particles deflect at small
angle. Very few even bounce back (1 in 20,000). Based on his observations, Rutherford proposed
the following structural features of an atom:
Most of the atom’s mass and its entire positive charge

are confined in a small core, called nucleus. The
positively charged particle is called proton.
Most of the volume of an atom is empty space.
The number of negatively charged electrons dispersed

outside the nucleus is same as number of positively charge in the nucleus. It explains the overall
electrical neutrality of an atom.
After the discovery of electron and proton Rutherford (1920) had predicted the existence of a
neutral fundamental particle. In 1932, Chadwick bombarded the element Beryllium with a-
particles and noticed the emission of a radiation having the following characteristics. The
radiation was highly penetrating. The radiation was unaffected by magnetic and electric fields
Structure of Atoms
which show that it is electrically neutral. It was found to have approximately the same mass as
the protons. Mass of a neutron is 1.008930 amu (1.6753 x 10–24g or 1.6753 x 10–27 kg)
Note:
Atomic mass = mass of protons + mass of neutron.
For a neutral atom, number of proton=number of electron.
Measured masses and charges of the three elementary particles are given in the following table.
Particle Symbol Charge Mass

Electron e– -1.60×10-19 C 9.1×10-31 kg
Proton p+ (H+) 1.60×10-19 C 1.672×10-27 kg
Neutron n0 0.00 C 1.674×10-27 kg
Atomic Number, Isotopes and Isobars:
What is atomic number?
 The total number of protons in the nucleus of an atom gives us the atomic number of that
atom.
 It is represented with the letter ‘Z.’
 All the atoms of a particular element have the same number of protons, and hence the
same atomic number.
 Atoms of different elements have different atomic numbers.
 For example, all atoms of Carbon have the atomic number of 6, whereas all atoms of
Oxygen have 8 protons in their nucleus.
What is mass number?
 The number of protons and neutrons combined give us the mass number of an atom.
 It is represented using the letter ‘A.’
 As both protons and neutrons are present in the nucleus of an atom, they are together
called nucleons.
 For example, an atom of Carbon has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. Thus, its mass number is
12.
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Structure of Atoms
 While the number of protons remains the same in all atoms of an element, the number of
neutrons can vary. Thus, atoms of the same element can have different mass numbers,
and these are called isotopes.
 The weight of an electron is almost negligible. Thus, the atomic mass of an atom is
almost the same as its mass number.
Difference between valency, A and Z:
When we want to find out the valency, we look at electrons only in the outermost shell of the
atom. But when we want to know the atomic number or the mass number, we look at the total
number of protons and neutrons.
Notation of atom:
To write the notation of an atom, we need to know the symbol of the element, the atomic number
and the mass number. The mass number of the atom goes above the symbol and the atomic
number is written as a subscript.
So, the notation of Carbon is:
Calculating number of neutrons:
If we know the number of protons and the mass number of an element, we can also calculate the
number of neutrons simply by subtracting its atomic number from its mass number.
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Structure of Atoms
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Structure of Atoms

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Structure of Atoms

Electron, Proton and Neutron:

Most of the atom’s mass and its entire positive charge

Most of the volume of an atom is empty space.

The number of negatively charged electrons dispersed

Atomic mass = mass of protons + mass of neutron.

For a neutral atom, number of proton=number of electron.

Particle Symbol Charge Mass

Atomic Number, Isotopes and Isobars:

What is atomic number?

What is mass number?

Difference between valency, A and Z:

So, the notation of Carbon is:

Calculating number of neutrons:

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