ACTIVITY NO. 6: The Discovery of The Structure of The Atom and Its Subatomic Particles Name: Date: Year & Section: Score: Concept Notes

ACTIVITY NO.
6: The Discovery of the Structure of the Atom and its Subatomic Particles
NAME: DATE:
YEAR & SECTION: SCORE:
Concept Notes:
What is the structure of the atom?
Greek philosophers Democritus and Leucippus developed the idea that all matter is composed of tiny,
indivisible particles called atoms. However, their atomic theory was based only on assumptions. It was not
until the early 1800s that experiments were performed to develop models for the structure of the atom.
In 1803, John Dalton, a British scientist, did experiments on mixtures of gases. He studied how the properties
of individual gases affect the properties of the mixtures of these gases. He developed the hypothesis that the
sizes of the particles making up different gases must be different. After several experiments, he concluded that
all matter is composed of spherical atoms, which cannot be broken down into smaller pieces. He added that all
atoms of one element are identical to each other but different from the atoms of another element.
The Electrons in the Plum Pudding Model
In 1897, Joseph John Thomson, a British physicist, proposed an atomic model known as the plum pudding
model. His model consisted of negatively charged particles (plum) spread evenly throughout the positively
charged material (pudding). The small, negatively charged particles are called electrons.
The Protons in the Planetary Model
In the early 1900s, Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealand-born physicist, established the planetary model which
described the atom as small, dense, and has a positively charged core called the nucleus. Inside the nucleus
are positively charged particles called the protons. The nucleus is surrounded by negatively charged particles
or electrons. The electrostatic attraction between electrons and nucleus mimics the gravitational force of
attraction between planets and the sun.
The Neutrons
In 1923, James Chadwick proved the existence of the neutron, which is also situated in the nucleus together
with the proton. It has the same mass as the proton but unlike the latter, it has no electric charge.
Recent Atomic Models
Bohr’s Atomic Model
Rutherford’s model showed that the electrons and nucleus have opposite charges which according to the laws
of physics, will attract each other. Thus, Rutherford's model would have electrons collapsing into the nucleus,
making the atom unstable. Niels Bohr solved this problem by proposing that the electrons orbit around the
nucleus in set energy levels. An electron absorbs energy if it moves from lower to higher energy level, and it
emits energy if it returns to the lower energy level.
Quantum Mechanical Model
The quantum mechanical model of the atom states that a nucleus is surrounded by a cloud of electrons called
orbitals. It explains that it is impossible to determine the exact location of the electron at a given time, but one
can find its probable location. It incorporates the concept of Bohr’s model where the electrons move in one
orbital to another by absorbing or emitting energy.
John Dalton described the atom as spherical.

Joseph John Thomson discovered the electron.
Ernest Rutherford proposed that the electrons orbit around the nucleus. He, together with his students,
discovered the proton.
Niels Bohr proposed that electrons orbit around the nucleus in set energy levels.
James Chadwick discovered the neutron.
Niels Bohr proposed that the electrons orbit around the nucleus in set energy levels.
In the quantum mechanical model, the nucleus is surrounded by a cloud of electrons called orbitals.
Exercises: Read each statement carefully. Encircle the letter/s of the correct answer.
1. It is the basic unit of an element.
a. atom b. compound c. energy d. matter
2. Which of the following particles does NOT make up an atom?
a. electron b. photon c. proton d. neutron
3. He proposed that the electrons orbit around the nucleus in set energy levels.
a. Ernest Rutherford b. John Dalton c. Joseph John Thompson d. Niels Bohr
4. Why is Ernest Rutherford's model called the planetary model?
a. It is not related to Rutherford's model.
b. The movement of the subatomic particles follows the movement of the planets.
c. The nucleus emits energy that mimics the emission of solar energy from the Sun.
d. The electrostatic interaction of electrons and nucleus mimics the gravitational force of attraction
between planets and the sun.
5. Which of the following describes John Dalton's model?
a. He described the atom as spherical, which contain different subatomic particles.
b. He described the atom as spherical, which cannot be broken down into smaller parts.
c. He described the atom as small, dense, and has a positively charged core called nucleus.
d. He described that the atom consists of negatively charged particles evenly spread throughout a
positively charged material.
6. Which of the following are not true about Bohr’s model? (2 possible answers)
a. He proposed that the electrons orbit around the nucleus set energy levels.
b. He proposed that the nucleus orbits around the electrons in set energy levels.
c. He proposed that an electron absorbs energy if it moves from lower to higher energy level, and it
emits energy if it returns to the lower energy level.
d. He proposed that an electron absorbs energy if it moves from higher to lower energy level, and it
emits energy if it returns to the higher energy level.
7. Which of the following are true about the neutrons? (2 possible answers)
a. The neutron is a positively charged particle.
b. The neutron was proven to exist by James Chadwick.
c. The neutron is found on the space surrounding the nucleus.
d. The neutron is found together with the protons inside the nucleus.
8. Which of the following is true about the quantum mechanical model?
a. This model states that the nucleus is surrounded by orbits and the exact location of the electrons is
determined.
b. This model states that the nucleus is surrounded by orbitals and the exact location of the electrons
is determined.
c. This model states that the nucleus is surrounded by orbits and the only probable location of the
electrons is determined.
d. This model states that the nucleus is surrounded by orbitals and the only probable location of the
electrons is determined.
9. Why did Niels Bohr disprove Rutherford's model?
a. Rutherford's model was based on assumptions.
b. Rutherford's model showed that the electrons freely move within the nucleus.
c. Rutherford's model of the electrons as negatively charged and the nucleus as positively charged
were inconclusive.
d. Rutherford’s model showed that the electrons and nucleus have opposite charges; thus, the
electrons would collapse into the nucleus, making the atom unstable.
10. Which of the following is NOT true about the discovery of subatomic particles?
a. Niels Bohr discovered the proton.
b. James Chadwick discovered the neutron.
c. Joseph John Thomson discovered the electron.
d. Ernest Rutherford discovered the proton in the nucleus.

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John Dalton described the atom as spherical.

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