Lesson Plan in Chemistry

Atomic Models and Structure of the Atom

I. Learning Competency

Describe the different models of the atom and the location of its major components
(protons, neutrons, and electrons)

II. Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the learners must have:

• Described the different Atomic Models;
• Determined the Structure of the Atom;
• Created Atomic Models using recycled materials

III. Subject Matter

A. Topic: Atomic Models and Structure of the Atom
B. Key Concepts
• The idea of atom dates back to the Ancient Greeks. Democritus concludes
that matter is discontinuous and could not be divided infinitely.
• Although the concept of the atom dates back to the ideas of Democritus,
John Dalton formulated the first modern description of it as the
fundamental building block of chemical structures. They have similar
ideas but Democritus based his theory more on reason than science.
• John Dalton’s Atomic Model is made up of small indivisible atoms. Atoms
cannot be divided, created or destroyed- atoms of the same element
have the same property and atoms of different elements have the
different properties. Also, atoms of different element can form
compounds.
• J.J Thomson’s Plum-Pudding Model states that atom is electrically neutral
and it has no charge. Both positive and negative charges are equal in an
atom. Also, an atom is made out of a sphere of positive charges with
negatively charged electron embedded in it.
• Ernest Rutherford’s Nuclear Model states that atoms are mostly empty
space. Most of the mass is concentrated in the center of atom. The tiny,
dense and positively charged core is the nucleus. Electrons are located
outside the nucleus.
• Niels Bohr’s Planetary Model illustrates that electrons orbit the nucleus in
orbits that have specific size and energy. The energy of the orbit is
related to its size. The lowest energy is found in the smallest orbit.
Electrons reside in orbits and they move each shell or level when gaining
or losing energy. When gaining energy, electrons move to farther orbit
from the nucleus. On the other hand, when losing energy, electrons move
to closer orbit from nucleus.
• Erwin Schrodinger’s Quantum Mechanical Model illustrates that electrons
don’t move around the nucleus in orbits but rather exist in specific energy
 level as a cloud. The electron cloud is the region of negative charges,
which surrounds the nucleus. Moreover, orbitals help to predict the area
where electrons are. The closer position to the nucleus, the higher the
chance to find electrons.
• Proton, Neutron and Electron are the subatomic particles.
• Inner structure of atom consists of a positively charged proton and a
neutral charge neutron. Both are massive particles compared to
electrons.
• Outer structure of atom consists of electron cloud where electrons are
likely to be found orbiting the nucleus in several energy levels; and
electrons which are negatively charged particles located in specific energy
levels surrounding the nucleus.
C. Science Process Skills
• Communicating
• Inferring
• Observing
D. Value Focus
• Curiosity
• Objectivity
• Accuracy
E. Instructional Materials
• Powerpoint presentation
• Projector
• Clay and Scissors
• Recycled materials

IV. Lesson Proper

Elicit The facilitator will ask a question with a picture of Carbon:

Consider a chunk of carbon. Imagine it dividing it into two. Then divide

again each piece into two.

If you continue on dividing each piece over and over again up to even a
thousand times? Would you still be left with carbon? Is it still a carbon?

The question sparks the minds of early scientists. They argued and hypothesized for
more than 2000 years ago.

Engage Learners are asked to bring out clay and scissors. Learners will cut the clay into
smaller pieces and come up with a smallest piece that cannot be divided into half
anymore. In this manner, the learners can have the idea that the clay is a
representation of atom.
Explore Provide an illustration of different models of atoms through a visual presentation in the
projector screen. Learners will observe the pictures, discuss and share their
observations with their peers.
Explain IDEAS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS ON THE ATOM

- The development of the atomic model of matter started from the early Greek
concept of atom.
- Greek philosophers were the first to describe matter and to wonder whether
matter could be divided.
- They are the first to propose scientific explanations but did not test their
theories.

Democritus
- Ancient Greek who first to argue and concluded that
matter could not be divided into smaller and smaller
pieces infinitely.
- If a stone is cut in half, each half had the same
properties as the original stone. If the stone continued
to be cut into smaller pieces, it would reach a piece of
tiny stone that could no longer be divided.
- He called the indivisible piece of matter an “Atomos”, a
Greek word of “Atom” which means indivisible or
cannot be divided.

- Democritus’ Atomic Model is simply a round sphere with no

electrons, protons or neutrons.

ATOM
- Atom is the basic unit of matter and the defining structure of elements.

DEMOCRITUS AND JOHN DALTON

- Although the concept of the atom dates back to the ideas of Democritus, John
Dalton formulated the first modern description of it as the fundamental building
block of chemical structures.
- Similar ideas but Democritus based his theory more on reason than science.
JOHN DALTON
- Regarded as the “Father of Atomic Theory”
- Dalton’s hypotheses state that the atoms are responsible for
the formation of compound by two or more elements.
-
JOHN DALTON “Billiard Ball” Model
1. Matter is made of small indivisible atoms.
2. Atoms cannot be subdivided, created or destroyed.
- Atoms of the same element have the same property.
- Atoms of different elements have different properties.
3. Atoms of different elements can form compounds.

J.J Thomson
- an English scientist, first speculated that the atom was made up of even smaller
particles.
- Credited with the discovery and identification of the electron- the first subatomic
particle to be discovered.
- Characterized the electron by proving that it had a negative electrical charge,
common to atoms of all elements.

J.J. Thomson’s “Plum-Pudding” Model

- Atoms are composed primarily of a very massive
positively charge blob.
- Embedded with the blob are negatively charged
electrons.
- Negtively charged electrons are fixed in the positive
sphere.

Discovery of the Electron

- J.J Thomson used a Cathode Ray Tube to deduce the presence of a negatively
charged particle- electron.
- It contains one or more electron guns and a fluorescent screen used to view
images.

Ernest Rutherford
- Student of J.J Thomson
- He made an experiment that J.J Thomson is incorrect
- Discovered the Nucleus and the positive protons
 -
Gold Foil Experiment
- Particles are shot through a thin sheet of
gold.
- Most shots went straight through and a
small amount were deflected.
- Concludes that atoms are made of mostly
of empty space with a small dense nucleus.

Rutherford’s Nuclear Model

1. Atoms are mainly empty space
2. Positive charge is concentrated at the center of atom
(nucleus).
3. The center of the atom is the nucleus.
4. Electrons move around the nucleus.

Niels Bohr
- Discovered that electrons exist in several distinct layers
or level.

Neils Bohr Planetary Model

1. Electrons travel around or orbits the nucleus
2. The energy of the orbit is related to its size. The lowest energy is found in the
smallest orbit.
3. Electrons can move between each shell when gaining or losing energy.

Erwin Schrodinger
- Improves Bohr’s findings and concludes that the
location of electron cannot be predicted.

Erwin Schrodinger Model

1. The model sees the electrons not as individual
particles but behaves like a cloud.
2. The electron cloud is the region of negative charges,
which surrounds the nucleus.
3. The electron can be anywhere in a certain energy level.
4. The orbitals help to predict the area where electrons
are. The closer position to the nucleus, the higher the
chance to find electrons.

Structure of an Atom
 Atoms are referred to as the building blocks of matter.
Each element on the periodic table is composed of one
type of atom and cannot be broken down into a simpler
substance.

Subatomic Particles
Atom is composed of smaller subatomic particles such
as proton, neutron, and electron.
- It is the building blocks of atoms.

Inner Structure of an Atom

Proton- positively (+) charged particles
Neutrons- particles that have no charge (neutral), but contribute to the atom’s mass.
Both protons and neutrons are massive particles compared to electrons.

Outer Structure of an Atom

Electron cloud- an area around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found
orbiting the nucleus in several energy levels.
Electron- negatively (-) charged particles located in specific energy levels surrounding
the nucleus.
It is the smallest in terms of among the types of subatomic particles.

Elaborate Learners are grouped into five and each group will create an atomic model
using improvised or recycled materials:

Group 1: John Dalton’s Atomic Model

Group 2: J.J Thomson Plum-Pudding Atomic Model
Group 3: Ernest Rutherford’s Nuclear Model
Group 4: Niels Bohr’s Model: Planetary Model
• Group 5: Erwin Schrödinger's Model: Electron Cloud Model/Quantum Model.

Each group presents and explains their atomic models to the class.
Evaluate Identification: Identify what Atomic model is being described in the illustration given.
 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Direction: Read each question carefully and choose the letter of the best answer.
1. It is described as the basic unit of matter.
a. Element b. Atom c. Compound d. Molecules

2. Which of the following atomic models explain the formation of electrons which
has negative electrical charge embedded in the positive-charge blob?
a. Nuclear Model b. Planetary Model c. Plum-Pudding Model d. Wave Model

3. What discovery does Rutherford find out when he bombarded the gold foil with
alpha particles?
a. nucleus & protons
b. electrons & protons
c. nucleus & electrons
d. neutrons & nucleus

4. The Atomic Model which states that electrons have no specific path and it is
impossible to determine the exact location.
a. Planetary Model
b. Nuclear Model
c. Quantum Mechanical Model
d. Plum-Pudding Model

5. It is an area around the core of an atom where electrons can be found, orbiting
in energy levels.
 a. Electron Cloud b. Nucleus c. Blob d. Proton

6. Which of the following atomic models describes that electrons revolve around
the core of the atom?
a. Planetary Model
b. Nuclear Mode
c. Quantum Mechanical Model
d. Plum-Pudding Model

7. A Greek philosopher who first to have an idea about the atom and stated that it
could not be infinitely divided.
a. Aristotle b. Plato c. Democritus d. Leucippus

8. In an atom, it is small, dense, and has positively charged center because it has
protons which contains most of the atom’s mass.
a. Electron cloud b. Nucleus c. Proton d. Neutron

9. It is an area around the core of an atom where electrons can be found, orbiting
in energy levels.
a. Electron Cloud b. Nucleus c. Blob d. Proton

10. What subatomic particles are in the inner structure of atom?

a. neutron and electron cloud
b. proton and electron
c. proton and neutron
d. electron and electron cloud
Extend Teacher presents a Periodic Table of Elements and play a video presentation to the
class on “How to find the Protons and Electrons of an Element on the Periodic Table.”

Homework:
Learners will read in advance how to decode atom information from the periodic table
of elements.

Prepared by:

Loreen Jane D. Abogado

MAEd Physical Science