Atomic models

1. Daltons atomic model

In 1803 Dalton proposed this statements about the atom:
The atom is filled sphere like a billiard ball (NOT TRUE)
The atoms of an element are completely identical
The basic units showing the same characteristics as the substances are called
the atoms
The atoms are the basic building bricks of each element. He said that atoms
cannot be further divided (NOT TRUE)
The atoms of different elements have different masses
Atoms form molecules in definite proportions (X + Y = XY, X + 2Y = XY 2)
2. Thomsons atomic model
Thomson discovered the electron in 1897 and Rutherford the nucleus in 1911 and
the proton in 1919. His statements were:
There are positively and negatively charged particles inside the atom which are
called protons and neutrons respectively. The have a charge of 1+ (proton) and
1-(electron)
In a neutral atom the number of electrons is same as the number of protons so
that the charge is 0
The atom is very small and has a radius of about 10 -8. Protons and electrons
have arbitrary positions
The mass of the atom is approximately equal to the mass of the protons
3. Rutherfords atomic model
He made the alpha particle experiment and proposed the following statements:
There is a theoretical region in the center of the atom. This dense region is called
the nucleus
The protons are in the nucleus and the electrons are scattering around the
nucleus
The mass od the atom is approximately equal to the mass of the electrons and
protons
But he hadnt idea about the neutron.
4. Bohrs atomic model
Niels Bohr made the Line spectrum experiment on hydrogen and concluded the
following statements:
The electrons are moving at a position with a certain distance from the nucleus.
Their motions are stable
Electrons are moving in circular paths around the nucleus called the energy
levels (shells)
The energy levels can be signed as K, L, M, etc. or by the positive integers 1, 2,
3,
 When an electron is in a stationary state it doesnt emit light. But when the
electron comes from a higher energy level to a lower one it uses a quantum of
light which is equal to the difference between the two shells.
5. The discovery of the neutron
In 1930s Rutherfords conclusions about the nucleus forced Chadwick to think
about it. He thought that if in the nucleus there are only protons than they would
repel each other and the atom would be destroyed. But since atoms exist he
thought that other type of particles exist. He called them neutrons and they were
uncharged particles (charge = 0).
6. Modern atomic theory
Although Bohrs model was valid for atoms of H or He +1 or Li+2, it did not work
for atoms having more than one electron. But his ideas lead to a step forward
in the development of modern atomic theory. The pioneers to modern atomic
theory are Lois de Broglie, Heisenberg and Schrdinger.
In 1924 Lois de Broglie proposed that small particles sometimes show
wave-like properties. In 1920 Werner Heisenberg stated his uncertainty
principle which explains position of electrons.
Modern atomic theory explains the probability of finding electrons around
the nucleus by virtue of quantum numbers and orbitals.
The quantum numbers are the integer numbers designating the energy levels
of the electrons in an atom, and the orbitals are the probable regions in which
the electrons might be found around the nucleus.
7. Quantum numbers
Quantum numbers specify the address of each electron in an atom. There are
four types of quantum numbers:
1. Principal quantum number, n energy level (shell)
2. Secondary quantum number, l subshell (s, p, d, f)
3. Magnetic quantum number, m l orbital
4. Spin quantum number, ms spin type of electron
There are no two electrons in an atom that can have the same four quantum
numbers. Each electron has a unique address, like a family living in a flat.
This is Pauli's Exclusion Principle.
1. The principal quantum number, n
determines the size and energy of an atom (larger n means bigger atoms and
higher energy),
can take an integer value n = 1, 2, 3, 4 ... or (K, L, M, N...),
 all electrons in an atom with the same value are said to belong to the same
shell.
2. Secondary quantum number, l
determines the overall shape of the orbital within a shell
affects orbital energies (bigger l = higher energy)
all electrons in an atom with the same value of l are said to belong to the
same subshell
has integer values between 0 and n-1
may be called the orbital angular momentum quantum number