What is Atomic Structure?
The composition of an element’s nucleus and how its electrons are arranged around it are referred to as the element’s atomic structure. Protons, electrons, and neutrons comprise the majority of the atomic structure of matter.
The atom’s nucleus, which is made up of protons and neutrons, is surrounded by the atom’s electrons. The element’s atomic number expresses the total number of protons in an element’s nucleus. Protons and electrons are equal in number in neutral atoms. But atoms can receive or lose electrons to make them more stable, and the resulting charged object is known as an ion. Because different elements’ atoms contain varying numbers of protons and electrons, their atomic structures are also different. This explains why different elements have unique properties.
Atomic Structure Definition
The atomic structure refers to the composition and organization of atoms, the basic units of matter. At the center of an atom is the nucleus, which contains protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (neutral particles)
The atomic model which we study today was not given at one time. Several attempts were made by scientists and later improved leading to the current atomic model. Let’s learn about different atomic models which led to the evolution of the present model.
Atomic Structure
Atomic structure is the structure of an atom that consists of a nucleus at the center containing neutrons and protons, while electrons revolve around the nucleus. Atoms are made up of a very tiny, positively charged nucleus that is surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons.
The earliest concept of atoms was given by Indian philosopher Maharshi Kanad who proposed that matter is made up of microscopic indestructible particles called ‘Parmanu’. A Greek philosopher named Democritus also initially claimed that matter is formed of atoms, and is credited with developing the concepts of atomic structure and quantum mechanics. Later in the 1800s, John Dalton a British Scientist put out the first atomic structure scientific theory.
This article explores the concept of atomic structure in detail, including the atomic models, and the concept of quantum theory.
Table of Content
- What is Atomic Structure?
- Atomic Models
- Dalton’s Atomic Theory
- Postulates of Dalton’s Atomic Theory
- Demerits of Dalton’s Atomic Theory
- Thomson’s Atomic Model
- Cathode Ray Experiment
- Observations of Cathode Ray Experiment
- Discovery of Electron
- Plum Pudding Model
- Drawbacks of Thomson’s Atomic Model
- Rutherford Atomic Model
- Alpha Ray Scattering Experiment
- Observation of Alpha Ray Scattering Experiment
- Conclusion of Rutherford’s model
- Discovery of Nucleus
- Limitations of Rutherford Atomic Model
- Bohr’s Atomic Model
- Postulates of Bohr’s Atomic Theory
- Limitations of Bohr’s Atomic Theory
- Quantum Mechanical Model of Atom
- Dual Behaviour of Matter
- Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
- Schrodinger Wave Equation
- Postulates of Quantum Mechanical Model of Atom
- Quantum Number
- Principal Quantum Number(n)
- Azimuthal Quantum Number(l)
- Magnetic Quantum Number(ml)
- Spin Quantum Number(ms)
- Subatomic Particles
- Isotopes
- Atomic Structure of Isotopes
- Electronic Configuration of Elements
- Aufbau Principle
- Hund’s Rule
- Pauli Exclusion Principle
- Atomic Structure Class 11
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