CH-4 STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM

Q1. Define atom.

Ans: An atom is the smallest particle of the element that may or may not exist
independently and retain all its chemical properties.
Q2. Name the three sub-atomic particles of an atom.
Ans: (i)Electron (ii)Proton (iii)Neutron
Q3. Compare the mass and charge of sub-atomic particles in tabular form. Also
name the scientist who discovered these particles.
Ans:
SUB-ATOMIC CHARGE MASS DISCOVERED BY
PARTICLES
Proton +1 1u E. Goldstein
Electron -1 Negligible J.J. Thomson
Neutron Neutral 1u James Chadwick
Q4.List the features of Thomson’s model of atom.
Ans. 1) An atom consists of a positively charged sphere and the electrons are
embedded in it.
2)The negative and positive charges are equal in magnitude .So the atom as a
whole is electrically neutral.
Q5Write the success and failure of Thomson’s model of atom.
Ans: Success -Thomson’s model explained that atoms are electrically neutral.
Failure -The results of experiments carried out by other scientists couldn’t be
explained by this model.
Q6What are alpha particles?
Ans: Alpha particles are doubly charged helium ions (He2+).They are fast moving
particles having a considerable amount of energy.
Q7Why did Rutherford select a gold foil for his experiment?
Ans: Rutherford selected a gold foil for his experiment because he wanted a thin
layer of metal and gold is the most malleable metal.
Q8 Explain Rutherford’s alpha(α) particle scattering experiment.
Ans: In his experiment ,fast moving alpha (α)particles were made to fall on a thin
gold foil
Draw fig 4.2 given in page 48
His observations and conclusions are as follows.
No OBSERVATIONS CONCLUSIONS
1 Most of the fast moving This indicates that most of the space
α- particles passed straight inside the atom is empty.
through gold foil
2 Some of the α-particles This indicates that the positive charge of the
were deflected by the foil by atom occupies very little space.
small angles
3 One out of every 12000 This indicates that all the positive charge
particles appeared to and mass of the gold atom were
rebound. concentrated in a very small volume within
the atom.
Q9 State the features of Rutherford’s nuclear model of atom.
Ans: 1.There is a positively charged centre in an atom called the nucleus. Nearly
all the mass of an atom resides in the nucleus.
2.The electrons revolve around the nucleus in circular paths.
3.The size of the nucleus is very small as compared to the size of the atom.
Q10 Write the drawbacks of Rutherford’s model of the atom.
Ans: Rutherford’s model couldn’t explain the stability of an atom. Any particle in a
circular orbit would undergo acceleration . During acceleration, charged particles
would radiate energy. Thus, the revolving electron would lose energy and finally
fall into the nucleus. If this were so, the atom should be highly unstable and
hence matter would not exist in the form that we know. But atoms are quite
stable.
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