STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

CHAPTER-9

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1. What was the indication that atoms are not indivisible?

Ans: One of the first indications that atoms are not indivisible comes from static
electricity and the condition under which electricity is conducted by different
substances.

2. Who stated that electricity is made up of particles?

Ans: Michael Faraday stated that electricity is made up of particles called atoms
of electricity.

3. Who suggested the name electrons for the atoms of electricity?

Ans: G.J. Stoney suggested the name electron for the atoms of electricity.
DISCOVERY OF ELECTRON

4. Who discovered an electron?

Ans: J.J. Thomson discovered electron.

5. What do you mean by cathode ray?

Ans: When a high voltage charge from an induction coil is applied to tubes filled
with gases at very low pressure,it resulted in the production of new kinds of rays.
Since these rays travel from the cathode towards the anode,they are called
cathode rays.

6. What is a discharge tube or a cathode ray tube?

Ans: The apparatus and the tube used in the production of cathode ray is called
a discharge tube or a cathode ray tube.

7. Write four characteristics of cathode rays?

Ans: The characteristic of cathode rays are as follows:
(i)
(ii)

An object in the path of beam of Cathode rays cast a shadow.

Deflection of the cathode rays towards a positively charged plate
shows that these rays are negatively charged.
(iii)
Cathode rays move a wheel. It shows that the rays consist of particles.
(iv)
Cathode rays always travel in straight line.
8. How it was concluded that cathode rays are fast moving particles
called electron?
Ans: It was observe that when an opaque object is placed in the path of the
cathode rays, they cast the shadow of the given object. These facts suggested
that these are not rays but they are fast moving material particles. Later, they
were given the name electrons.
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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

CHAPTER-9

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the cathode rays?

9. What was the conclusion made by J.J.Thomson in the experiment of

Ans: Thomson concluded that these negatively charged particles, now called
electrons are integral part of all atoms.

10.

What do you mean by electrical charge?

Ans: The charge of the electron is the smallest known electrical charge.

11.

What is the value of electrons ?

Ans: Electron has been assigned a value of -1.

12.

What is the mass of an electron?

Ans: The mass of an electron is nearly 1/1837 of the mass of hydrogen atom.
DISCOVERY OF PROTON

13.

Who discovered proton?

Ans: In 1886 ,E.Goldstien discovered proton.

14.

What do you mean by Positive rays or anode rays?

Ans: The rays which travelled in the opposite direction to the cathode are called
positive rays or anode rays.

15.

What are the characteristics of anode rays?

Ans: The characteristic of anode rays are as follows;

(i)
(ii)
(iii)

16.

Anode rays always travel in straight line.

Anode rays consist of positively charged particles known as protons.
The mass and charge of the anode rays depends upon the gas
enclosed in the discharge tube.
What is the smallest and lightest gas?

Ans: Hydrogen gas.

DISCOVERY OF THE NUCLEUS ( RUTHERFORD EXPERIMENT)

17.

What do you mean by radioactivity and radioactive element?

Ans: In 1896, Henry Becquerel while conducting experiments with uranium salts
found that these salts gave out penetrating radiations spontaneously. The
radiation was capable of passing through paper, or even thin sheets of metals,
and affected a photographic plate. The phenomenon was called radioactivity
and the element was called radioactive element.
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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS
18.

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What are the three types of radiation emitted from radioactive

elements?

Ans: Alpha:- it is positively charge particle

Beta :- It is negatively charge particle
Gamma:- It carry no charge at all.

19.

Describe Rutherfords gold foil experiment.

Ans: Rutherford directed a stream of alpha particles from a radioactive source

towards a very thin gold foil. Alpha particles are doubly-charged helium ions with
mass 4 u.
The following observation s was made from his experiment:
(i)

Most of the alpha particles ( nearly 99%) passed through the gold foil
undeflected.
(ii)
A few of them got deflected through small angles.
(iii)
Very few did not pass through the foil at all but suffered large
deflections (more than 90 Degrees) or even returned back in the
direction from which they came.
Diagram on page 69
20.
What were the observations made by Rutherfords gold foil
experiment?
Ans: The following observation s was made from his experiment:
(a) Most of the alpha particles ( nearly 99%) passed through the gold foil
undeflected.
(b) A few of them got deflected through small angles.
(c) Very few did not pass through the foil at all but suffered large deflections
(more than 90 Degrees) or even returned back in the direction from which
they came.
21.
Describe the explanation made by Rutherford on his
observation of Gold foil experiment.
Ans: Rutherford explanations were as follows:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

(v)

Gold is a dense solid. It can hardly be compressed.

Since most of - particles pass through the gold foil undeflected, there
must be a very large empty space within the atom.
Alpha particles are positively charged and have considerable mass.
The strong deflections, bouncing or even bouncing back of -particles
from the foil were explained to be the result of a direct collision with the
positively charged nucleus of the atom.
The atoms themselves appear to be neutral, since gold is neither
attracted nor repelled by charged bodies.

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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS
22.

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Write the features of the nuclear model of atom put forward by

Rutherford.

Ans: The features of the nuclear model of atom put forward by

Rutherford are as follows:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

23.

There is a tiny positively charged centre in an atom called the nucleus.

All the mass of an atom is concentrated in the nucleus.
Between the nucleus and the outer electrons is empty space except for
other electrons.
The size of the nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom.
What is the value of charge of Rutherfords Model of atom?

Ans: The value of charge carried by a proton is equal in magnitude but opposite
in sign to that of an electron i.e., it has one unit positive change (+1).

24.
On the basis of Rutherfords model of an atom, which
subatomic particle is present in the nucleus of an atom?
Ans:

protons (positively-charged particles)

25.
What do you think would be the observation if the particle scattering experiment is carried out using a foil of a
metal other than gold?
Ans:

If the -scattering experiment is carried out using a foil of a metal rather than gold, there
would be no change in the observation but It is difficult to make such foils with other metals.

ATOMIC NUMBER
26.

What do you mean by atomic number?

Ans: Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic number (Z)= Number charge or Number of protons = Number of
electrons
DISCOVERY OF NEUTRON
27.
Who discovered neutron ?
Ans: James Chadwick discovered neutron in 1932.
28.
How did James Chadwick discover?
Ans: James Chadwick discovered neutron by bombarding a thin foil of beryllium
metals with - particles.
29.
What do you mean by nucleon?
Ans: The entire mass of atom is mainly due to protons and neutrons present in
the nucleus.They are collectively called nucleons.
30.
What do you mean by Mass number?
Ans: The sum of the number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of
an atom is called the mass number. It is denoted by A.
Mass number (A)=No. of protons +No. of neutrons
31.
What is the difference between Mass number and atomic
mass?
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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

CHAPTER-9

32.
Ans:

Page

Ans: Mass number is always a whole number, the atomic mass of the element
may not be whole
number always.

Compare the properties of electrons, protons and neutrons.

ISOTOPES AND ISOBARS

33.
What do you mean by Isotopes of the element?
Ans: The atoms of the same element having the same atomic number
but different mass numbers are called isotopes of the element.
34.
What is mass spectrometer?
Ans: Mass spectrometer is an instrument to measure mass of an atom.
35.
What are the isotopes of hydrogen atoms?
Ans: The isotopes of mass of atoms are protium , deuterium and tritium.
36.
What do you mean by radioactive isotopes or
radioisotopes?
Ans: Radioactive isotopes are unstable isotopes which emit various types
of radiations and penetrating particles.
37.
Give any two uses of isotopes.
Ans: Uses of Isotopes
1. Isotope of uranium 23592U is used as a nuclear fuel in atomic reactors.
2. Cobalt 60, an isotope of cobalt is used in the treatment of cancer.
3.Isotopes of iodine-131b is used to treat goitre.
38.
What do you mean by isobar?
Ans: Isobars : Atoms of different elements having the same mass number,
but different atomic
numbers are known as isobars.
Example : Calcium and argon atoms have the same mass number 40,
but different
atomic numbers 20 and 18 respectively.
Lets us Answer Page-75
39.
Who proposed the atomic theory ?
Ans: John Dalton.
40.
From which electrode do the cathode rays originate?
Ans: Cathode
41.
What happens to cathode rays when they are subjected
to an electric field?
Ans: Cathode rays deflected it direction when they are subjected to an
electric field.
42.
What is the charge of an electron?
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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

CHAPTER-9

Page

Ans: The charge of an electron is -1.

43.
Where is the mass of an atom concentrated?
Ans: The mass of an atom is concentrated at the nucleus.
44.
What are the electrons in an atom found?
Ans: The electrons are found in the extranuclear shell .
45.
Which atoms contains only two fundamental particles?
Ans: Hydrogen
46.
What are cathode rays and how do they differ from
positive rays ?
Ans: A cathode ray is a beam of electrons that travel from the negatively charged to

positively charged end of a vacuum tube, across a voltage difference between the electrodes
placed at each end.

Cathode rays are travel from cathode to anode whereas positive rays are
travel from anode to cathode.
47. Give experimental evidence to show that:
(i) the entire mass of an atom is positively charged.
(ii) the nucleus of an atom is positively charged.
Ans
(i) Alpha particles are positively charged and have considerable mass.They
can be deflected only if they come close to some heavy ,positively charged
mass,due to the force of repulsion. Since most of the -particles are deflected

to certain angles,it implies that there is a heavy,positively charged mass

present in the atom.
(ii) The strong deflections, bouncing or even bouncing back of -particles from
the foil were explained to be the result of a direct collision with the positively
charged nucleus of the atom.

48.
Derive the relationship between atomic number,mass number
and number of neutrons in an atom.
Ans: Mass number (A)=No. of protons +No. of neutrons
MODELS OF ATOM:

49.
On the basis of Thomsons model of an atom, explain how the
atom is neutral as a whole.
Ans: According to Thomsons model of the atom, an atom consists of equal
number of negatively and positively charged particles. The negatively
charged particles are embedded in the positively charged sphere
and balance their charges. Thus, they make an atom neutral.
50.
OR

Describe Thomsons Model of atoms.

Why Thomsons Model of atom is called a pudding cake.

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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

CHAPTER-9

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Ans: An atom is electrically neutral .It contains positive charges as well as

negative charges.Hence, J.J. Thomsons assumed that an atom is a uniform
sphere of positive charges with electrons embedded in it.
Thus , the atom may be visualized as a pudding or cake of positive
charge with raisins (electrons) embedded into it.
51.

What are the limitations of J.J. Thomsons model of the atom?

Ans: J.J. Thomsons fail to explain how electrons are arranged in positively charged sphere of an
atom.

52.
Describe the Rutherfords Model of an atom. What are the
limitations?
Ans: Rutherford proposed an atomic model similar to the structure of solar
system. Just as in the solar system, the sun is at the centre and the planets
revolve around it , in an atom, the nucleus contains the main mass and the
electrons revolve around it in orbits or shells.
Limitation: Rutherford fail to explain how electron revolving round nucleus in well
define orbit undergo acceleration without losing or gaining energy.
If an electrically charged particle revolves around a circular path, then it always radiates out energy,
gradually move towards the nucleus in a spiral path, till fall into the nucleus. If this happen atoms
may be unstable. This is not true.

53.
Explain how Rutherfords model of atom accounts for the
stability of an atom.
Ans: The outward (centrifugal) force acting on the electrons balances the
inward(centripetal) force of attraction exerted on them by the nucleus.
This accounts for the stability of an atom.
54.

Describe Bohrs model of the atom.

OR , How did Neils Bohr explains the stability of the atom ?

Ans: According to Bohr model of the atom:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

The nucleus is situated at the centre of the atom.

The electrons revolve around the nucleus in definite circular fixed
orbits.
The orbits or shells are numbered as 1,2,3,4etc.
As long as electron remains in a particular orbit,it does not lose or
gain energy.

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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

To change from one orbit another electron must absorb or emit a

quantity of energy exactly equal to the difference in energy
between the two orbits.
Page

(v)

CHAPTER-9

This model of the atom explains satisfactorily the stability of the atom
55.

What do you mean by energy levels or energy shells?

Ans: The orbits of the electrons around the nucleus are associated with
definite energies and are called energy shells or energy levels.
56.

What do you mean by stationary states?

Ans: The energy of the electron in a particular energy level shall remain
constant. Therefore , these orbits are called stationary states.
57.
What are the various letters used in Bohrs model to
represent electron shells in an atom ?
Ans: K,L,M,N..etc
58.
Why is an atom neutral in spite of the presence of
charged particles in it?
Ans: An atom is neutral in spite of the charge particle because the
number of positive charge present in the nucleus is equal to the number
of negative charge electron.
59.
Describe the scheme for the distribution electrons in
different orbits as suggested by Bohr and Bury.
Ans: The scheme consists of the following rules:
(i)

(ii)

The maximum number of electrons that can be present in a shell is

given by the formula 2n2 , where n is the orbit number or energy
level index ,1,2,3 Thus,
For the first orbit (n=1) or K-shell, maximum number of electrons=2
x 12=2.
For the first orbit (n=2) or L-shell, maximum number of electrons=2
x 22=8.
For the first orbit (n=3) or K-shell, maximum number of electrons=2
x 32=18.
And so on .
The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in
the outermost orbit is 8 and the next to outermost known as
penultimate orbit cannot have more than 18 electrons.

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STRUCTURE OF ATOMS

It is not necessary for an orbit to be completed before the next orbit

starts filling.

Valence Electron
60.

Page

(iii)

CHAPTER-9

What do you mean by valence shell?

Ans: The outermost electrons shell of an atom is known as valence shell.

61.

What are valence electrons?

Ans: The electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom are known
as valence
electron.
62.

What do you mean by valency?

Ans: The combining capacity of an atom is called valency.

63.
Why do only valence electrons of an atom take part in
chemical combination?
Ans: Because they have more energy than the inner electrons of the
atom.
64.

What do you meant by inert or noble elements?

Ans: The valency of the atoms having octet in their valence shell is zero.
These elements are known as inert or noble element.
Example: Helium, neon, Argon, krypton, xenon are inert elements.

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