AQA GCSE CHEMISTRY - Discovery of the atom

Dalton's Atomic Theory

Proposed that matter is made up of small indivisible particles called atoms.

Thomson's Plum Pudding Model

Suggested that atoms are a uniform sphere of positive charge with embedded electrons.

Rutherford's Nuclear Model

Discovered that atoms have a dense nucleus positively charged, surrounded by electrons.

Bohr Model

Proposed that electrons orbit the nucleus in specific energy levels or shells.

Wave-Particle Duality

Concept that particles such as electrons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties.

Quantum Mechanical Model

Describes electrons in terms of probabilities rather than fixed orbits.

Electron Cloud Model

Visualizes the regions around the nucleus where electrons are likely to be found.

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

States that it is impossible to simultaneously know both the position and momentum of an electron.

Periodic Table Development

Organizes elements based on atomic number and properties, reflecting atomic structure.

Modern Atomic Theory

Incorporates principles of quantum mechanics into the understanding of atomic structure.