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The atom, according to Thomson’s model, is structurally similar to a plum pudding. He imagined electrons as dry fruits in a positive-charged sphere that represented the pudding. We can also compare this to a watermelon, with the positive charge dispersed throughout the edible part of the watermelon and electrons studded in that sphere, as shown in the figure below:
Thomson’s model diagram:
It is also possible to say that the electrons were randomly inserted in a positively charged sphere. According to Thomas, the positive and negative charges were of equal magnitude, cancelling each other out and neutralising the atom.
Thomson model’s postulates:
The atom is neutrally charged.
There is a source of positive charge that cancels out electrons’ negative charge.
This positive charge is distributed equally across the atom.
According to Thomson, “negatively electrified corpuscles,” or electrons, are contained within the uniform mass of positive charge.
Electrons could freely move within the atom.
The electrons possessed stable orbits, according to Gaussian Law. If the electrons moved through the positive “mass,” their internal forces were balanced by the positive charge that was formed automatically around the orbit.
J.J. Thomson’s atomic model was generally known as a plum pudding model in England because the electron distribution predicted by Thomson was comparable to the arrangement of plums in that delicacy.
Limitations:
This model was the most fundamental of all the others. It had many flaws, but it piqued the interest of other scientists and paved the path for additional important discoveries in the subject.
The presence of a nucleus in the atom was not mentioned in the model.
It did not explain how the positively charged electrons might be contained by the positive charge. In other words, it couldn’t account for the atom’s stability.
It was unable to explain Rutherford’s scattering experiment and the scattering of alpha particles when projected on gold foils.
Background of Thomson’s model:
Thomson proposed in 1897 that the basic body of an atom is spherical in shape, with electrons (small particles within the atom that have a negative charge) and a positively charged “jelly” surrounding the electrons that neutralises the charge of the electrons. The first portion of John Dalton’s theory is contradicted here since it states that atoms are indivisible in nature, but Thomson discovered that there are other pieces to atoms, which he discovered to be electrons! So, in 1897, J.J. Thomson identified the first subatomic particle, the electron, as well as his new model! Thomson also contributed to the discovery of isotopes and atoms with different atomic weights of the same element.Many scientists proposed various theories and explanations for the structure of an atom. J. J. Thomson, a scientist, developed the most basic model. Theoretically, this model explained the description of the interior structure of the atom. Thomson’s model was not an accurate model for accounting for atomic structure, but it served as the foundation for the creation of alternative atomic models.
Many scientists proposed various theories and explanations for the structure of an atom. J. J. Thomson, a scientist, developed the most basic model. Theoretically, this model explained the description of the interior structure of the atom. Thomson’s model was not an accurate model for accounting for atomic structure, but it served as the foundation for the creation of alternative atomic models.
Important terms related to atom:
Atoms combine to generate the shapes we see around us. They are the fundamental building components of all living and non-living organisms on Earth. Because atoms are so important to our survival, it’s important to understand how they work, how they’re built, and what they’re made of.
Electrons are negatively charged particles in an atom that make up a very small percentage of the atom’s mass. They revolve around an atom’s protons (positively charged particles) and neutrons (neutral particles). When an atom loses or gets electrons, it transforms into an ion.
Protons are positively charged particles in an atom that are approximately 1840 times heavier than electrons. Protons and neutrons combine to form the atomic nucleus, around which the atom’s electrons spin.
Neutrons are subatomic particles that do not have an electric charge and have somewhat greater mass than protons.The atomic nucleus is made up of neutrons and protons. Neutrons are essential for nuclei to be stable.
The atomic nucleus is a small, dense region made up of atomic protons and neutrons that the electron’s spin revolves around.
Thomson model of atom c:
Diagrammatic representation:
Conclusion:
Matter is defined as anything that occupies space. Matter includes air and water, sugar and sand, hydrogen and oxygen, and so on. Matter is also made up of microscopic particles. Because matter occupies so much space and is a part of our daily lives, it is only reasonable to be curious about what makes it up. Scientists have long been interested in learning more about the structure and composition of matter.Despite the fact that Thomson’s atomic model was erroneous and had a few flaws, it served as the foundation for several subsequent atomic structure models. It is one of the foundation models that later led to significant and breakthrough inventions.
