CHAPTER NO.
19
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
QUESTION & ANSWERS
1. Define atom.
Ans: Atom:
Atom is the smallest unit in which matter can be divided without the release of
electrically charged particles.
2. Describe the structure of an atom.
Ans: Structure of an Atom:
Every atom is composed of two parts:
The central and dense part of an atom is the nucleus which is consist of closely packed
protons and neutrons. Electrons revolve at high speed around the nucleus in circular paths
orbits. Most of the atom is empty space.
3. Give the Geiger and Marsden α scattering experiment with the help of a diagram.
Ans: Geiger and Marsden α- scattering experiment:
Geiger and Marsden bombarded a thin foil of gold placed in a vacuum
by a beam of α particles. A ring-shaped screen coated with zinc–sulfide is used to detect α-
particles.
Observation:
Most of the α-particles pass through the foil un-deflected.
The Small number of the α-particles deflected at large angles.
Very few α-particles deflected back through 180◦.
Conclusion /postulates of Rutherford Model:
To explain the observation of the Geiger and Marsden experiment, Rutherford Postulated
an atomic model known as Rutherford atomic model.
There exist large empty spaces in an atom as most of the α-particles pass through
the foil un-deflected.
Positive charge is concentrated in a small, dense, central region of an atom called the
nucleus. As some of the α-particles that deflected through large angles had come
very close to this positively charged dense region and a few α-particles were repelled
so strongly that they bounded back.
4. Give the Geiger and Marsden α- scattering experiment with the help of a diagram.(See
answer no.03)
5. Where are the electrons found inside an atom? (See Answer No.02)
6. Which particles are found in the nucleus of an atom? (See Answer No.03)
7. Give the Rutherford model of an atom( See Answer No.03)
8. Why it was proposed that most atoms possess an empty space? (See Answer No.03)
9. Write the composition of an atom.
Ans. Composition of atom:
Atoms consist of three elementary particles; electrons, protons
and neutrons. Electrons carry negative charge and revolve in outermost region of nucleus,
called shell.
Protons and neutrons are bounded tightly by the nuclear forces in nucleus. Protons are
positively charged while neutrons carry no charge.
An atom has equal number of protons as electrons.
The mass of proton is almost equal to the mass of the neutron (mass of the neutron is
slightly larger than that of proton)
The mass of an electron is 1836 times smaller than that of proton.
10. Why an atom is neutral?
Ans. An atom has equal number of protons as electrons and the magnitude of positive
charge on proton is equal to the magnitude of negative charge on electron that’s why, an
atom is considered neutral.
11. How does the number of protons in nucleus distinguish one element from the other?
Ans. All materials are made from almost 100 essential elements. No two different elements
can have the same number of protons. Therefore, the number of protons in nucleus
distinguish one element from the other.
12. Define atomic number.
Ans. Atomic number:
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is called atomic
number. It is denoted by Z.
In an atom:
No of protons= No of electrons
13. Define mass number/ nucleon number.
Ans. Mass number / Nucleon number:
The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of
an atom is called nucleon number or mass number.
It is denoted by A.
A=Z+N
14. Define the term “Nucleons”
Ans. Protons and neutrons in the nucleus are collectively called nucleons.
15. Define the term “nuclide”
Ans. Nuclide:
A nuclide is an atom with a particular number of protons and neutrons.
16. Explain the symbol/lic representation of an atom of an element.
Ans. Symbolic representation of an atom of an element:
An atom is symbolically represented by:
ZX4
Where X is a symbol of an element, A is the nucleon number, and Z is the atomic number.
Example:
Carbon atom (Z= 6, 4A=12) has 6 protons and 6 neutrons and is represented as:
6C12
16. The nuclide notation for uranium-235 is 92U235. Determine the number of protons,
electrons, and neutrons.
Ans. Data:
A=235
Z=92
Solution:
:. Number of protons = Z= No. of electrons
:. The number of protons = 92= No. of electrons
:. A= Z+ N
:. 235=92 + N
N = 235 – 92 = 143
16. What are isotopes? Explain with an example.
Ans. Isotopes:
Atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number (Z) but different
nucleon or mass number (A) are called Isotopes of that element.
Example:
The hydrogen atom (Z= 1) has three isotopes given below:
Protium:
The isotope of hydrogen (Z=1) with a nucleon number equal to 1 (A=1) is known as
Protium. It has 1 electron, 1 proton, and no neutron. Its symbol is 1H1
Deuterium:
The isotope of hydrogen (Z=1) with a nucleon number equal to 2 (A=2) is known as
Protium. It has 1 electron, 1 proton, and 1 neutron. Its symbol is 1H2
Tritium:
The isotope of hydrogen (Z=1) with a nucleon number equal to 3 (A=3) is known as
Protium. It has 1 electron, 1 proton, and 2 neutrons. Its symbol is 1H3
17. Why are the chemical properties of an element in different isotopes identical?
Ans: The chemical properties of an element depend upon sharing of electrons between
atoms to make or break the chemical bond and different isotopes of an element have the
same number of electrons. That’s why their chemical properties are identical:
18. Which physical properties of different isotopes of an element are different?
Ans: The physical properties of an element mainly depend upon the mass of the atom and
different isotopes of an element have different numbers of neutrons they have different
masses and that’s why their physical properties (mass, surface area volume, and density)
are different.
“It should be possible to explain the laws of
physics to a barmaid.”
THE END.
