Class 11 Chemistry – Chapter 2: Structure of Atom
1. Discovery of Subatomic Particles
Electron (J.J. Thomson, 1897): Discovered through Cathode Ray Tube Experiment. Charge:
-1.602 × 10■¹■ C; Mass: 9.109 × 10■³¹ kg.
Proton (E. Goldstein, 1886): Discovered using Canal Ray Experiment. Charge: +1.602 × 10■¹■
C; Mass: 1.673 × 10■²■ kg.
Neutron (James Chadwick, 1932): Discovered by bombarding beryllium with alpha particles.
Charge: 0; Mass: 1.675 × 10■²■ kg.
2. Atomic Models
Thomson’s Model: Atom is a positively charged sphere with electrons embedded. Failed to
explain spectra and stability.
Rutherford’s Model: Nucleus is small, dense, positively charged; electrons revolve around it.
Failed to explain atomic stability and hydrogen spectra.
3. Bohr’s Model (1913)
Electrons revolve in fixed orbits; energy is emitted/absorbed when electrons jump between levels:
∆E = hν.
Energy of electron: En = -13.6 Z²/n² eV; Radius: r■ = 52.9 × n²/Z pm.
Success: Explained hydrogen spectrum. Drawbacks: Failed for multi-electron atoms and wave
nature.
4. Dual Nature of Electron (de Broglie, 1924)
λ = h / mv, where λ is wavelength, h is Planck's constant, m is mass and v is velocity of electron.
5. Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle (1927)
Impossible to know exact position and momentum of electron simultaneously.
∆x · ∆p ≥ h / 4π.
6. Quantum Mechanical Model (Schrödinger, 1926)
Treats electron as wave; Schrödinger equation gives probability of finding electron. Orbitals are
regions of high probability.
7. Quantum Numbers
Principal (n): Shell number, size, energy.
Azimuthal (l): Subshell; shape of orbital (s, p, d, f).
Magnetic (m■): Orientation of orbital (-l to +l).
Spin (m■): Spin of electron; +½ or -½.
