. Since the ancient Greek civilization, people have wondered about the nature of the atom. The atom is the basic building block of matter. The word atom comes from the Greek language. A is a prefix meaning not. The word tomos means cut. Therefore, atomos or atoms means cannot be cut or divided.

. Many people helped develop the theory of atoms. The first was a Greek named Democritus in the 4th century BC. He proposed that all matter was made of tiny particles. Democritus thought that empty space filled the area between the solid atoms. That concept of the atom was unchanged for centuries. Then an English scientist, John Dalton, proposed an atomic theory in 1803. Atomic theory says that atoms are solid with an atomic mass. They can react because of the forces of attraction and repulsion. In 1873, James Clerk Maxwell proposed that electric and magnetic fields filled the empty space in atoms.

. In 1897, J. J. Thomson discovered the first subatomic particles, which he called electrons. His experiments found that these electrons have a negative electric charge. He then calculated that they had a much smaller mass than even the smallest atom. Thomson proposed the plum pudding model of the atom. This model says that negatively-charged electrons are mixed inside a cloud of positive charge. He thought they were like chunks of plum inside pudding.

. Ernest Rutherford did an experiment in 1909 to test Thomson's model. His results did not agree with the plum pudding model. Instead, Rutherford was the first to show the nuclear model of the atom. This model shows that the center of an atom contains positively-charged protons (p+) surrounded by the negatively-charged electrons (e-). In 1932, Sir James Chadwick found the neutrally charged neutron (n0). The atomic model now seemed complete after all these discoveries.

. Many people had a hand in developing atomic theory as we know it today. However, scientists continue to study the atom. They have found many more details about atoms. As we learn about this building block of matter, the nuclear model of the atom will continue to change.
Now answer each one

QUESTION 1
The root word “di” means “two,” so the word “diatomic” refers to _____.

OPTIONS

forces within the atom



a molecule with two atoms



negatively-charged electrons



positively-charged protons


QUESTION 2
In paragraph 2, attraction and repulsion refer to _____.

OPTIONS

electric and magnetic fields



atomic theories



tiny particles



solid atoms


QUESTION 3
How did Ernest Rutherford’s experiment relate to J.J. Thomson’s work?

OPTIONS

Rutherford looked for magnetic fields, while Thomson looked for electric fields.



Rutherford repeated Thomson’s experiment and confirmed the results.



Rutherford tested a conclusion based on Thomson’s results.



Rutherford had not known about Thomson’s experiment.


QUESTION 4
Which scientist discovered the neutron and gave us the current basic model of the atom?

OPTIONS

James Maxwell



John Dalton



James Chadwick



Sir Isaac Newton


QUESTION 5
What contribution did J.J. Thomson make to the development of atomic theory?

OPTIONS

said that atoms are solid masses



showed that electrons surround a dense nucleus



found that atoms are made of smaller particles



proposed that atoms contain electric fields

1 answer

QUESTION 1
The root word “di” means “two,” so the word “diatomic” refers to _____.

OPTIONS

a molecule with two atoms

QUESTION 2
In paragraph 2, attraction and repulsion refer to _____.

OPTIONS

atomic theories

QUESTION 3
How did Ernest Rutherford’s experiment relate to J.J. Thomson’s work?

OPTIONS

Rutherford repeated Thomson’s experiment and confirmed the results.

QUESTION 4
Which scientist discovered the neutron and gave us the current basic model of the atom?

OPTIONS

James Chadwick

QUESTION 5
What contribution did J.J. Thomson make to the development of atomic theory?

OPTIONS

found that atoms are made of smaller particles