Section 2

2.1 Evolving Theories of Matter

Theory
- an idea used to account for a situation or justify a course of
action

Atomic Theory
-theory that explains the nature of matter
By stating matter is composed on units
called atoms
Different Models of The Atom

 This begs the question…

What is an atom?

Many people throughout history have attempted to explain what an atom is

by putting forth their “model of the atom”
Important Definitions (you need to know before looking at
the models)

1. electrons - negatively charged subatomic particles

found in the cloud region of atoms
2. protons – positively charged subatomic particles
found in the nucleus
3. neutrons – neutrally charged subatomic particles
found in the nucleus
 The Stone Age

¤Over 10 000 years ago man was in the Stone Age (before 8 000
BC).
¤At this time man used very simple tools made of stone and bone.
¤They also used fire for cooking and warmth.

¤After 8 000 BC man discovered metals!

 Early Chemists

¤ Between 6 000 BC and 1 000 BC, early chemists investigated highly valuable
materials, such as gold and copper.

¤ The IRON AGE started around 1 200 BC, when a group of people called Hittites
began extracting iron from rocks.

¤ Iron was used to make weapons, pots, etc.

 Early Hypotheses

1. Democritus was a Greek philosopher.

¤ In 400 BC he proposed that all matter was made up of tiny
indivisible particles called
“atomos”

“atomos” = cannot be cut.

2. Aristotle was another Greek philosopher.
¤ In 350 BC he proposed that everything was made of earth,
air, fire, and water.
Ancient Greeks
 Modern Chemistry

¤1660’s – Robert Boyle

studied gases

¤1780’s – Antoine Lavoisier studied chemical reactions and developed a

system for naming chemicals.
He is known as the “father of modern chemistry”.
 Modern Chemistry

¤1808 – John Dalton

¤An atom is a solid sphere
¤“billiard ball model” of the atom.
 Before we go on...

Did you know that positive and negative poles

attract?

Like poles repel.

Opposites attract.
 Modern Chemistry

¤ 1897 - J.J. Thomson

discovered electrons
“raisin bun” or “plum pudding” model of the atom: positive sphere with
electrons embedded in it

He used a cathode ray tube, which fired particles

from atoms. He found that there were negatively
charged electron particles because they moved
toward a positive charge
 Modern Chemistry

¤ 1907 - Ernest Rutherford

¤ gold foil experiment
- fired positive particles at thin gold foil
- expected all particles to go straight through
- surprised that some bounced back!
- for them to bounce back, + particles must have hit other + (proton)
¤ atoms have a positively charged nucleus
Rutherford

 The planetary model: electrons are

like planets orbiting the nucleus
 Also called the solar system model
 Modern Chemistry

¤ 1922 - Niels Bohr

¤ “electron shell” model
¤ electrons move in specific shells or orbits around the nucleus in set energy levels
Example (we’ll come back to these):

2e-
8e-
8e-
TODAY!

Quantum mechanics model

Positive nucleus surrounded by a “cloud” of electrons
(probable places an electron could be around the nucleus)
 Your Assignment

Play with the PHET on the website! Try out the experiment to understand one of the
models of the atom

Then, with the class we will watch this video on the models of the atom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B3DDY27ZtE

After the video, your task is to create a timeline of the models of the atom – starting at
John Dalton!