3  The Structure of the Atom

2  Defining the Atom

BUILD TO THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Read the items under Build to the Essential Question at the
beginning of the lesson. Restate each in your own words.

REVIEW
VOCABULARY Recall the definition of the Review Vocabulary term.
model
model 

NEW VOCABULARY Define each New Vocabulary term.

atom
atom 
cathode ray
cathode ray 
electron
nucleus
proton electron 
neutron

nucleus 

proton 

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

neutron 

Explain an atom by completing the following statements.

The atom is the

When a group of atoms and act as a

 , the result is known as a .

Science Notebook • The Structure of the Atom

46
 2  Defining the Atom (continued)
Summarize the information you learned about cathode ray
experiments. Use Figure 7 for reference.

Cathode Ray
Experiment

Altering the gas in the Cathode ray is deflected

tube and the material toward the positively
used for the charged plate by an
cathode have no effect. electric field.

Cathode ray is
Proves: deflected in a Proves:
magnetic field.

Indicates:

GET IT?  Explain how the cathode ray was discovered.

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

GET IT?  Summarize how Thomson discovered the electron.

Science Notebook • The Structure of the Atom

47
2  Defining the Atom (continued)
Identify the major discoveries about subatomic particles made by the
19th century.

1.

2.

3.

GET IT?  Explain why Thomson’s model was called the plum
pudding model.

Describe  Rutherford’s model of the atom by completing the following

statements.
1.   Most of an atom consists of
moving

through
.

2.   The electrons are

within the atom by their
to the positively charged
.

3.   T
 he volume of
through which the electrons move is
VOCABULARY many times
than the volume of the
.

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

Science usage v. Common
Usage GET IT?  Describe  Rutherford’s model of the atom.
Neutral
Science usage: to have
no electric charge.
Neutrons have a charge
of zero. They are
neutral particles.
Common usage: not
engaged in either side.
Switzerland remained
neutral during World
War II.
Science Notebook • The Structure of the Atom
48
 2  Defining the Atom (continued)
Organize the properties of subatomic particles by completing the
table below. Use Table 3 for reference.

Electron Proton Neutron

Symbol

Location in nucleus

Relative
electrical 1+
charge

Summarize what you have learned about subatomic particles by

completing the following paragraph.

Atoms have a
shape. The
of an atom is made up

of that have a positive charge and

that have no
. The nucleus makes up
of the mass of an atom.

Most of the area of an is made up of negatively charged

traveling around the
charged nucleus. The
are held in place by their
to the positive charge of

the
. The
of the protons and neutrons are almost

to each other while the of the electrons is
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

Science Notebook • The Structure of the Atom

49
2  Defining the Atom (continued)
REVIEW IT !
 7. Describe the structure of a typical atom. Identify where each subatomic particle is
located.

 8. Compare and contrast Thomson’s plum pudding atomic model with Rutherford’s
nuclear atomic model.

 9. Evaluate the experiments that led to the conclusion that electrons are negatively
charged particles found in all matter.

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education

10. Compare the relative charge and mass of each of the subatomic particles.

11. Calculate  What is the difference expressed in kilograms between the mass of a
proton and the mass of an electron?

Science Notebook • The Structure of the Atom

50