Historic Models of the Atom

Course:
Chemistry

What does an atom look like? We now picture the atom using the Quantum Mechanical model, but there were many other models that led up to our current understanding. In this video. we discuss the History of the Atom and the various early models of atomic structure. The model of the atom has undergone steady changes to reflect experimental results, starting with John Dalton's model (1803), to JJ Thomson's model (1897), to Ernest Ruthford's model (1909), to Niels Bohr's model (1913). Our current atomic model, the "quantum mechanical model," will be discussed in a separate video.

The concept of an atom as the smallest indivisible unit of matter has been around since the ancient Greek philosophers including Democritus (~460-370 BC). But the earliest scientific model of the atom comes to us from John Dalton. Dalton proposed the Atomic Theory in 1803, based on experimental evidence from his studies showing different gases always combined in whole-number ratios.

Since Dalton’s work, the model of the atom has evolved over time to incorporate new experiments and discoveries. This video introduces the following historical models of the atom:

  • 1803 Dalton billiard ball model
  • 1897 J.J. Thomson plum pudding model (the electron)
  • 1909 Rutherford gold foil experiment (the nucleus)
  • 1913 Bohr planetary model (distinct energy levels for electrons)

We will continue the story of the atom with the Quantum Mechanical model of the atom, which requires its own video (in production).
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Video: Early Models of the Atom

Handout: Video Notes Worksheet

Interactive Quiz

Practice Test: Atoms, Elements, & Isotopes