STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

1. What was the indication that atoms are not indivisible?

Ans: One of the first indications that atoms are not indivisible comes from static electricity and the
condition under which electricity is conducted by different substances.

2. Who stated that electricity is made up of particles?

Ans: Michael Faraday stated that electricity is made up of particles called “atoms of electricity”.

3. Who suggested the name electrons for the atoms of electricity?

Ans: G.J. Stoney suggested the name electron for the atoms of electricity.
DISCOVERY OF ELECTRON

4. Who discovered an electron?

Ans: J.J. Thomson discovered electron.

5. What do you mean by cathode ray?

Ans: When a high voltage charge from an induction coil is applied to tubes filled with gases at very
low pressure,it resulted in the production of new kinds of rays. Since these rays travel from the
cathode towards the anode,they are called cathode rays.

6. What is a discharge tube or a cathode ray tube?

Ans: The apparatus and the tube used in the production of cathode ray is called a discharge tube or
a cathode ray tube.

7. Write four characteristics of cathode rays?

Ans: The characteristic of cathode rays are as follows:

(i) An object in the path of beam of Cathode rays cast a shadow.

(ii) Deflection of the cathode rays towards a positively charged plate shows that these rays
are negatively charged.
(iii) Cathode rays move a wheel. It shows that the rays consist of particles.
(iv) Cathode rays always travel in straight line.
8. How it was concluded that cathode rays are fast moving particles called electron?

Ans: It was observe that when an opaque object is placed in the path of the cathode rays, they cast
the shadow of the given object. These facts suggested that these are not rays but they are fast
moving material particles. Later, they were given the name electrons.

9. What was the conclusion made by [Link] in the experiment of the cathode rays?
1
Page

Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)

[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

Ans: Thomson concluded that these negatively charged particles, now called electrons are integral
part of all atoms.

10. What do you mean by electrical charge?

Ans: The charge of the electron is the smallest known electrical charge.

11. What is the value of electrons ?

Ans: Electron has been assigned a value of -1.

12. What is the mass of an electron?

Ans: The mass of an electron is nearly 1/1837 of the mass of hydrogen atom.

DISCOVERY OF PROTON

13. Who discovered proton?

Ans: In 1886 ,[Link] discovered proton.

14. What do you mean by Positive rays or anode rays?

Ans: The rays which travelled in the opposite direction to the cathode are called positive rays or
anode rays.

15. What are the characteristics of anode rays?

Ans: The characteristic of anode rays are as follows;

(i) Anode rays always travel in straight line.

(ii) Anode rays consist of positively charged particles known as protons.
(iii) The mass and charge of the anode rays depends upon the gas enclosed in the discharge
tube.
16. What is the smallest and lightest gas?

Ans: Hydrogen gas.

DISCOVERY OF THE NUCLEUS ( RUTHERFORD EXPERIMENT)

17. What do you mean by radioactivity and radioactive element?

Ans: In 1896, Henry Becquerel while conducting experiments with uranium salts found that these
salts gave out penetrating radiations spontaneously. The radiation was capable of passing through
paper, or even thin sheets of metals, and affected a photographic plate. The phenomenon was
called radioactivity and the element was called radioactive element.
2
Page

18. What are the three types of radiation emitted from radioactive elements?
Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)
[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

Ans: Alpha:- it is positively charge particle

Beta :- It is negatively charge particle

Gamma:- It carry no charge at all.

19. Describe Rutherford’s gold foil experiment.

Ans: Rutherford directed a stream of alpha particles from a radioactive source towards a very thin
gold foil. Alpha particles are doubly-charged helium ions with mass 4 u.

The following observation s was made from his experiment:

(i)
Most of the alpha particles ( nearly 99%) passed through the gold foil undeflected.
(ii)
A few of them got deflected through small angles.
(iii)
Very few did not pass through the foil at all but suffered large deflections (more than 90
Degrees) or even returned back in the direction from which they came.
Diagram on page 69
20. What were the observations made by Rutherford’s gold foil experiment?

Ans: The following observation s was made from his experiment:

(a) Most of the alpha particles ( nearly 99%) passed through the gold foil undeflected.
(b) A few of them got deflected through small angles.
(c) Very few did not pass through the foil at all but suffered large deflections (more than 90
Degrees) or even returned back in the direction from which they came.
21. Describe the explanation made by Rutherford on his observation of Gold foil experiment.

Ans: Rutherford explanations were as follows:

(i) Gold is a dense solid. It can hardly be compressed.

(ii) Since most of α- particles pass through the gold foil undeflected, there must be a very large
empty space within the atom.
(iii) Alpha particles are positively charged and have considerable mass.
(iv) The strong deflections, bouncing or even bouncing back of α-particles from the foil were
explained to be the result of a direct collision with the positively charged nucleus of the
atom.
(v) The atoms themselves appear to be neutral, since gold is neither attracted nor repelled by
charged bodies.
22. Write the features of the nuclear model of atom put forward by Rutherford.

Ans: The features of the nuclear model of atom put forward by Rutherford are as follows:

(i) There is a tiny positively charged centre in an atom called the nucleus.
3

(ii) All the mass of an atom is concentrated in the nucleus.

Page

(iii) Between the nucleus and the outer electrons is empty space except for other electrons.
Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)
[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

(iv) The size of the nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom.
23. What is the value of charge of Rutherford’s Model of atom?

Ans: The value of charge carried by a proton is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to that of an
electron i.e., it has one unit positive change (+1).

24. On the basis of Rutherford’s model of an atom, which subatomic particle is present in
the nucleus of an atom?
Ans: protons (positively-charged particles)
25. What do you think would be the observation if the α-particle scattering experiment is
carried out using a foil of a metal other than gold?

Ans: If the α-scattering experiment is carried out using a foil of a metal rather than
gold, there would be no change in the observation but It is difficult to make such foils
with other metals.
ATOMIC NUMBER
26. What do you mean by atomic number?

Ans: Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Atomic number (Z)= Number charge or Number of protons = Number of electrons
DISCOVERY OF NEUTRON
27. Who discovered neutron ?
Ans: James Chadwick discovered neutron in 1932.
28. How did James Chadwick discover?
Ans: James Chadwick discovered neutron by bombarding a thin foil of beryllium metals with α-
particles.
29. What do you mean by nucleon?
Ans: The entire mass of atom is mainly due to protons and neutrons present in the [Link] are
collectively called nucleons.
30. What do you mean by Mass number?
Ans: The sum of the number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom is called the
mass number. It is denoted by A.
Mass number (A)=No. of protons +No. of neutrons
31. What is the difference between Mass number and atomic mass?
Ans: Mass number is always a whole number, the atomic mass of the element may not be whole
number always.
32. Compare the properties of electrons, protons and neutrons.
Ans:
4
Page

Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)

[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

ISOTOPES AND ISOBARS

33. What do you mean by Isotopes of the element?
Ans: The atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass
numbers are called isotopes of the element.
34. What is mass spectrometer?
Ans: Mass spectrometer is an instrument to measure mass of an atom.
35. What are the isotopes of hydrogen atoms?
Ans: The isotopes of mass of atoms are protium , deuterium and tritium.
36. What do you mean by radioactive isotopes or radioisotopes?
Ans: Radioactive isotopes are unstable isotopes which emit various types of radiations and
penetrating particles.
37. Give any two uses of isotopes.
Ans: Uses of Isotopes

1. Isotope of uranium 23592U is used as a nuclear fuel in atomic reactors.

2. Cobalt – 60, an isotope of cobalt is used in the treatment of cancer.
[Link] of iodine-131b is used to treat goitre.
38. What do you mean by isobar?
Ans: Isobars : Atoms of different elements having the same mass number, but different atomic
numbers are known as isobars.

Example : Calcium and argon atoms have the same mass number 40, but different
atomic numbers 20 and 18 respectively.
Lets us Answer Page-75
39. Who proposed the atomic theory ?
Ans: John Dalton.
40. From which electrode do the cathode rays originate?
Ans: Cathode
41. What happens to cathode rays when they are subjected to an electric field?
Ans: Cathode rays deflected it direction when they are subjected to an electric field.
42. What is the charge of an electron?
Ans: The charge of an electron is -1.
43. Where is the mass of an atom concentrated?
Ans: The mass of an atom is concentrated at the nucleus.
44. What are the electrons in an atom found?
Ans: The electrons are found in the extranuclear shell .
45. Which atoms contains only two fundamental particles?
Ans: Hydrogen
46. What are cathode rays and how do they differ from positive rays ?
Ans: A cathode ray is a beam of electrons that travel from the negatively charged to
5

positively charged end of a vacuum tube, across a voltage difference between the
Page

electrodes placed at each end.

Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)

[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

Cathode rays are travel from cathode to anode whereas positive rays are travel from
anode to cathode.
47. Give experimental evidence to show that:
(i) the entire mass of an atom is positively charged.
(ii) the nucleus of an atom is positively charged.
Ans (i) Alpha particles are positively charged and have considerable [Link] can be deflected only
if they come close to some heavy ,positively charged mass,due to the force of repulsion. Since most of
the α-particles are deflected to certain angles,it implies that there is a heavy,positively charged
mass present in the atom.

(ii) The strong deflections, bouncing or even bouncing back of α-particles from the foil were
explained to be the result of a direct collision with the positively charged nucleus of the atom.

48. Derive the relationship between atomic number,mass number and number of neutrons
in an atom.

Ans: Mass number (A)=No. of protons +No. of neutrons

MODELS OF ATOM:

49. On the basis of Thomson’s model of an atom, explain how the atom is neutral as a whole.

Ans: According to Thomson’s model of the atom, an atom consists of equal number of
negatively and positively charged particles. The negatively charged particles are embedded in
the positively charged sphere and balance their charges. Thus, they make an atom neutral.

50. Describe Thomson’s Model of atoms.

OR Why Thomson’s Model of atom is called a pudding cake.

Ans: An atom is electrically neutral .It contains positive charges as well as negative
[Link], J.J. Thomson’s assumed that an atom is a uniform sphere of positive charges
with electrons embedded in it.

Thus , the atom may be visualized as a pudding or cake of positive charge with raisins
(electrons) embedded into it.

51. What are the limitations of J.J. Thomson’s model of the atom?

Ans: J.J. Thomson’s fail to explain how electrons are arranged in positively charged
sphere of an atom.
52. Describe the Rutherford’s Model of an atom. What are the limitations?
6
Page

Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)

[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

Ans: Rutherford proposed an atomic model similar to the structure of solar system. Just as in
the solar system, the sun is at the centre and the planets revolve around it , in an atom, the
nucleus contains the main mass and the electrons revolve around it in orbits or shells.

Limitation: Rutherford fail to explain how electron revolving round nucleus in

well define orbit undergo acceleration without losing or gaining energy.

If an electrically charged particle revolves around a circular path, then it always

radiates out energy, gradually move towards the nucleus in a spiral path, till fall into
the nucleus. If this happen atoms may be unstable. This is not true.
53. Explain how Rutherford’s model of atom accounts for the stability of an atom.

Ans: The outward (centrifugal) force acting on the electrons balances the
inward(centripetal) force of attraction exerted on them by the nucleus. This accounts for
the stability of an atom.

54. Describe Bohr’s model of the atom.

OR , How did Neils Bohr explains the stability of the atom ?

Ans: According to Bohr’ model of the atom:

(i) The nucleus is situated at the centre of the atom.

(ii) The electrons revolve around the nucleus in definite circular fixed orbits.
(iii) The orbits or shells are numbered as 1,2,3,4…etc.
(iv) As long as electron remains in a particular orbit,it does not lose or gain energy.
(v) To change from one orbit another electron must absorb or emit a quantity of energy
exactly equal to the difference in energy between the two orbits.

This model of the atom explains satisfactorily the stability of the atom

55. What do you mean by energy levels or energy shells?

Ans: The orbits of the electrons around the nucleus are associated with definite energies
and are called energy shells or energy levels.

56. What do you mean by stationary states?

Ans: The energy of the electron in a particular energy level shall remain constant.
Therefore , these orbits are called stationary states.

57. What are the various letters used in Bohr’s model to represent electron shells in an
atom ?
7
Page

Ans: K,L,M,N……..etc
Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)
[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

58. Why is an atom neutral in spite of the presence of charged particles in it?

Ans: An atom is neutral in spite of the charge particle because the number of positive
charge present in the nucleus is equal to the number of negative charge electron.

59. Describe the scheme for the distribution electrons in different orbits as suggested by
Bohr and Bury.

Ans: The scheme consists of the following rules:

(i) The maximum number of electrons that can be present in a shell is given by the
formula 2n2 , where ‘n’ is the orbit number or energy level index ,1,2,3……………
Thus,
For the first orbit (n=1) or K-shell, maximum number of electrons=2 x 12=2.
For the first orbit (n=2) or L-shell, maximum number of electrons=2 x 22=8.
For the first orbit (n=3) or K-shell, maximum number of electrons=2 x 32=18.
And so on .
(ii) The maximum number of electrons that can be accommodated in the outermost
orbit is 8 and the next to outermost known as penultimate orbit cannot have more
than 18 electrons.
(iii) It is not necessary for an orbit to be completed before the next orbit starts filling.

Valence Electron
60. What do you mean by valence shell?

Ans: The outermost electrons shell of an atom is known as valence shell.

61. What are valence electrons?

Ans: The electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom are known as valence
electron.

62. What do you mean by valency?

Ans: The combining capacity of an atom is called valency.

63. Why do only valence electrons of an atom take part in chemical combination?

Ans: Because they have more energy than the inner electrons of the atom.

64. What do you meant by inert or noble elements?

8
Page

Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)

[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)
 STRUCTURE OF ATOMS CHAPTER-9

Ans: The valency of the atoms having octet in their valence shell is zero. These elements
are known as inert or noble element.

Example: Helium, neon, Argon, krypton, xenon are inert elements.

9
Page

Prepared by Tutor: [Link] Sharma (8974434474)

[Link] (Physics, 1st Class) [Link] ( 1st Class)