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Chapter 2: Problem 4

Describe the contributions of these scientists to our knowledge of atomic structure: J. J. Thomson, R. A. Millikan, Ernest Rutherford, James Chadwick.

Short Answer

Expert verified
J. J. Thomson discovered the electron and proposed the 'plum pudding' model of the atom. R. A. Millikan measured the charge of the electron. Ernest Rutherford discovered the nucleus, refining the atomic model further. James Chadwick discovered the neutron, solidifying our current understanding of the atom consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Step by step solution

01

Contribution of J. J. Thomson

J. J. Thomson is credited with the discovery of the electron. Through his cathode ray experiments in 1897, he was able to conclude that atoms contain tiny negatively charged particles, which we now know as electrons. His discovery led to the 'plum pudding' model of the atom, where electrons (the 'plums') are scattered within a positively charged 'pudding'.
02

Contribution of R. A. Millikan

R. A. Millikan is known for his oil-drop experiment conducted in 1909, in which he measured the charge of the electron. His experiment was able to determine that the charge of an electron is \(-1.6 \times 10^{-19}\) coulombs. This further refined our knowledge of the atomic structure and verified Thomson's discovery of the electron.
03

Contribution of Ernest Rutherford

Ernest Rutherford performed the gold foil experiment in 1911. The results of this experiment disproved Thomson's 'plum pudding' model. Rutherford found that most of the atom's mass and positive charge were concentrated in a small core, which he termed the 'nucleus'. He concluded that the electrons surround the nucleus at a distance, marking the beginning of the nuclear model of the atom.
04

Contribution of James Chadwick

James Chadwick discovered the neutron in 1932. He fired alpha particles at beryllium and found that it released radiation which was not deflected by electric or magnetic fields. This radiation consisted of neutral particles with almost the same mass as protons, which he named 'neutrons'. This discovery added another level of detail in our understanding of the atomic structure, comprising protons, neutrons and electrons.

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