Chapter 4, Problem 108A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Scientific methods needs to be used to determine the model of the atom.

Concept introduction:

Number of experiments were done to gather information on the structure of the atom by different scientists to understand the positon of the electron, proton or neutron in the atom and how they really exist.

Answer to Problem 108A

Several scientific methods were used to determine the model of the atom that explains the structure of the atoms and how its different units like electron, proton or neutron are discreted in the atom.

Theory of the model of the atom explains the structure in a much precised way than it does experimentally, so it is considered a theory.

Explanation of Solution

Several scientific methods were used to determine the model of the atom as

1. Daltons model of an atom.
2. Thomson’s model of the atom also known as Plum pudding model.
3. Rutherford model of the atom.
4. Bohr’s model of the atom.

All these methods are very useful for reading the structure of the atom. The best structure out of these that explains the atom is Bohr’s atomic model of the atom.

Model of the atoms are considered more of a theory as the scientific theory of the nature of matter which states that the matter is composed of discrete units called atoms and the study of different units present in an atom is explained theoretically by different scientists of the different eras. Though they are studied experimentally, yet a lot of the structural determination is explained theoretically.

Conclusion

Several scientific methods were used to determine the model of the atom that explain the structure of the atoms and how its different units like electron, proton or neutron are discreted in the atom.

Theory of the model of the atom explains the structure in a much precised way than it does experimentally, so it is considered a theory.