Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table: The Nuclear Model (DONE)

Question 1

What is the nuclear model?

Answer 1

The scientific model of an atom where the atom is mostly empty space and in the centre of the atom we have a nucleus and around the edge of the atom we have negative electrons.

Question 2

What is the radius of an atom?

Answer 2

The radius of an atom is:

1 x 10^-10 m

Question 3

What is the radius of a nucleus?

Answer 3

The radius of a nucleus is:

1 x 10^-14 m

Question 4

What are the relative charges of protons, neutrons and electrons?

Answer 4

Protons have a relative charge of positive one (+1).

Neutrons have a relative charge of zero.

Electrons have a relative charge of negative one (-1).

Question 5

Why don’t atoms have an overall charge?

Answer 5

Atoms don’t have an overall charge as they have the same number of electrons as protons. This means the positive charges of the protons are cancelled by the negative charges on the electrons.

Question 6

What are the relative masses of protons, neutrons and electrons?

Answer 6

Protons have a relative mass of 1.

Neutrons have a relative mass of 1.

Electrons have a very small relative mass.

Question 7

What is meant by the term “relative charge”?

Answer 7

Relative charge means the charge of one particle compared to another.

Question 8

What is meant by the term “relative mass”?

Answer 8

Relative mass means the mass of one particle compared to another particle.

Question 9

What modifications were made to the nuclear model the years following its discovery? (3)

Answer 9

Instead of the electrons just being found at the edge of an atom the scientist Neils Bohr proposed that electrons orbit the nucleus at specific distances rather than just a general area. We now call these orbits energy levels, or shells. Several years later, scientists found that the positive charge in the nucleus is due to tiny positive particles which they called protons and the number of protons determines the amount of positive charge in the nucleus. 20 years later, the scientist James Chadwick made a final important discovery, he discovered that the nucleus also contains neutral particles which he called neutrons.

Question 10

What was the name of the scientist who proposed electrons orbit the nucleus at specific distances rather than just a general area?

Answer 10

The name of the scientist who proposed electrons orbit the nucleus at specific distances rather than just a general area is Neils Bohr.

Question 11

What was the name of the scientist who discovered neutrons?

Answer 11

The name of the scientist who discovered neutrons is James Chadwick.