Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure

1. The Bohr Model

   • Niels Bohr adapted Ernest Rutherford's nuclear model. Bohr did calculations that led him to suggest that electrons orbit the nucleus in shells. The shells are at certain distances from the nucleus. The calculations agreed with observations from experiments.
   • Further experiments led to the idea that the nucleus contained small particles, called protons. Each proton has a small amount of positive charge.
   • In 1932 James Chadwick found evidence for the existence of particles in the nucleus with mass but no charge. These particles are called neutrons. This led to another development of the atomic model, which is still used today.

2. Structure of the Atom

   • An atom has a central nucleus. This is surrounded by electrons arranged in shells.
   • The nucleus is tiny compared to the atom as a whole. The radius of an atom is about 0.1 nm. The radius of a nucleus is less than 1/10,000 of the radius of an atom.

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