Atoms
400 b.c. Greeks Greeks philosophers ponder the nature of matter: what is it made of? Democritus: basic particle of matter = “atom” which means “indivisble”. Envisions these to be “hard spheres” Aristotle: does not believe in atoms
Dalton’s Atomic Theory 1803 1) All matter is composed of extremely small particles called atoms
Dalton’s Atomic Theory 1803 Atoms of one element are all alike (size, mass)
Dalton’s Atomic Theory 1803 3) Atoms can’t be created, destroyed or subdivided
Dalton’s Atomic Theory 1803 Atoms of different elements combine in simple whole number ratios to form compounds
Dalton’s Atomic Theory 1803 5) In a chemical reaction, atoms are combined, separated, or rearranged
Conservation of mass in chemical reactions
Conservation of mass in chemical reactions
1897 J.J. Thompson Cathode Ray Experiments The electron is discovered…. “PLUM PUDDING” model
Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment 1909 Ernst Rutherford bombards a piece of gold foil with positively charged alpha particles (the nucleus of a helium atom)
Some alpha particles bounce back
Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment Observations: Most of the alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil as if it wasn’t even there! The nucleus of the atom is small, dense, and positively charged
Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment Interpretation (conclusions): Atoms are mostly empty space and therefore MATTER is mostly empty space Atoms have a small, dense, positively charged nucleus
+ + + This alpha particle passes through the atom’s empty space + + + Alpha particles have + charge two + charges will repel each other
Subatomic Particles (Table O) Proton Electron Neutron
Protons Located in the atom’s nucleus Positive charge +1 Mass = 1 amu (Atomic Mass Unit)
Neutrons Located in the atom’s nucleus zero charge (neutral) Mass = 1 amu (Atomic Mass Unit)
Electrons Located in the electron cloud outside the nucleus Negative charge -1 Mass = 1/1836 amu (negligible)
What are the subatomic particles in lithium and carbon?
Models of the atom
A model of the atom to scale If YOU are the nucleus of an atom, your closest electron would be…. ……..in downtown Rhinebeck!
Actual image of 2 atoms