What are Atoms?

The scene lets students explore, observe, and compare different models of the atom conceived over time. They will learn how scientists used evidence to explain the structure of the atom and how the different models evolved over time.

# Learning objectives

1: Be able to describe the structure of an atom.{.info}

2: Be able to describe the evolution of the atomic model{.info}

3: Be able to describe the properties of the parts of an atom{.info}

# The Plum Pudding Model of an Atom{.objective .objective1}

In this section, a description of the first atomic model will be described as the plum pudding model. As Dalton established the concept of matter made up of particles called atoms, he developed the first atomic model to illustrate them: a positively charged sphere with negative electrons scattered within it.

# Rutherford’s Experiment{.objective .objective2}

In this section, Rutherford’s experiment will be outlined and how it provide evidence for a new atomic model. His experiment showed electrons behaved very differently to Dalton’s model and came up with the nuclear model with a central nucleus of positive and negative particles, and negative electrons surrounding the nucleus.

# Atoms and their Properties{.objective .objective3}

This section describes how Niels Bohr reconceived the atomic model inspired by Rutherford’s effort, creating the Bohr atom, made up of the same nuclear structure, but with electrons orbiting around the nucleus on dedicated electron shells, which could be on different energy levels.

Here, students will also look at a more recent model, the quantum model, illustrating that electrons do not sit permanently on an orbital shell, but rather move constantly between orbitals and energy levels as they fall towards the nucleus and then get pushed out again.

# Teacher Resources

### Download Teacher Notes

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/794564/files/What%20Are+Atoms+Teacher+Notes+Only.pdf?date=1677759610&size=864735&md5=9842b25dd867fda60bf958b5dad31d2f)

### Student Quiz Answers Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/794566/files/What%20Are+Atoms+Quiz+Answers.pdf?date=1677759758&size=404153&md5=a75568d33a2e8b33d15809d80f6eadbe)

### Download Student Quiz Document

[](https://data.avncloud.com/activities/794567/files/What%20Are+Atoms+Quiz+Only.pdf?date=1677759848&size=94508&md5=23e0ab597fe7fb00a74f89adb8866fc7)