Category: History
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Rutherford’s Model (1911)
Ernest Rutherford (1911): Rutherford’s gold foil experiment showed that atoms consist of a small, dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons. This model replaced Thomson’s plum pudding model and introduced the concept of a central nucleus. Rutherford’s work established the basic structure of the atom, with electrons orbiting a dense, positively charged nucleus.
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Discovery of the Electron (1897)
J.J. Thomson (1897): Thomson discovered the electron through his experiments with cathode rays. He demonstrated that cathode rays were composed of negatively charged particles, which he initially called “corpuscles.” Thomson’s work provided the first evidence of subatomic particles and led to the development of the “plum pudding” model of the atom, where electrons were thought…
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Early Atomic Models (Early 19th Century)
John Dalton (1803): Dalton proposed the first modern atomic theory, which described atoms as indivisible particles that combine to form compounds. Dalton’s model did not include electrons but laid the groundwork for understanding atomic structure.