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14 Mar

Atomic Structure – Chronological Development (Atomic Models & Key Concepts)

YearScientist / ModelKey Points
1808John Dalton – Dalton’s Atomic Theory• Matter made of indivisible atoms
 • Atoms of same element are identical. 
• Chemical reactions involve rearrangement of atoms.
1897J. J. Thomson – Discovery of Electron• Discovered electron using cathode ray experiment. 
• Measured charge-to-mass ratio (e/m) of electron.
1904J. J. Thomson – Plum Pudding Model• Atom is positively charged sphere with electrons embedded inside.
1909Robert A. Millikan – Oil Drop Experiment• Measured charge of electron (1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C).
1911Ernest Rutherford – Rutherford Atomic Model• Gold foil experiment discovered nucleus
• Most of atom is empty space.
1913Niels Bohr – Bohr Atomic Model• Electrons revolve in fixed energy levels (shells)
• Energy levels are quantized.
1924Louis de Broglie – Wave Nature of Electron• Proposed wave–particle duality of electrons.
1926Erwin Schrödinger – Quantum Mechanical Model• Electrons described by wave functions and orbitals.
1927Werner Heisenberg – Uncertainty Principle• Exact position and momentum of electron cannot be known simultaneously.

Chronological Development of Quantum Concepts (Electron Behaviour)

YearConceptKey Points
1900Max Planck – Quantum TheoryEnergy emitted in discrete packets called quanta.
1905Albert Einstein – Photoelectric EffectLight behaves as particles (photons).
1924Louis de Broglie – Matter WavesAll matter particles have wave nature.
1927Werner Heisenberg – Uncertainty PrinciplePosition and momentum cannot be measured simultaneously with perfect accuracy.



Chemistry Laws Related to Atom – Chronological Order

YearScientist / LawKey Statement / Concept
1789Antoine Lavoisier – Law of Conservation of Mass• Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. 
• Total mass of reactants = total mass of products.
1799Joseph Proust – Law of Definite Proportions• A compound always contains same elements in fixed ratio by mass.
1803John Dalton – Law of Multiple Proportions• If two elements form more than one compound, the ratio of masses combining is a simple whole number ratio.
1808John Dalton – Dalton’s Atomic Theory• Matter consists of indivisible atoms
• Atoms combine in simple ratios to form compounds.
1808Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac – Law of Combining Volumes• Volumes of reacting gases combine in simple whole-number ratios at same temperature and pressure.
1811Amedeo Avogadro – Avogadro’s LawEqual volumes of gases at same temperature and pressure contain equal number of molecules.
1911Ernest Rutherford – Rutherford Atomic Model• Atom has small dense nucleus with electrons revolving around it.
1913Niels Bohr – Bohr Atomic Model• Electrons move in fixed energy levels (orbits) around nucleus.
1924Louis de Broglie – de Broglie Hypothesis• Electrons have wave–particle dual nature.
1926Erwin Schrödinger – Wave Equation / Quantum Model• Electrons described by probability orbitals (wave function).
1927Werner Heisenberg – Uncertainty Principle• Exact position and momentum of electron cannot be known simultaneously.



Major Discoveries / Laws Related to Electron – Chronological Order

YearScientist / DiscoveryKey Points
1897J. J. Thomson – Discovery of Electron• Discovered using cathode ray tube experiment
• Showed atoms contain negatively charged particles (electrons).
1904J. J. Thomson – Plum Pudding Model• Atom is a positively charged sphere with electrons embedded inside like “plums”.
1909Robert A. Millikan – Oil Drop Experiment• Measured charge of electron (1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C).
1911Ernest Rutherford – Nuclear Model of Atom• Proposed central nucleus with electrons revolving around it.
1913Niels Bohr – Bohr Atomic Model• Electrons move in fixed energy levels (shells) around nucleus.
1924Louis de Broglie – Wave Nature of Electron• Electrons have wave–particle duality.
1926Erwin Schrödinger – Quantum Mechanical Model• Electrons exist in orbitals (probability regions) rather than fixed paths.
1927Werner Heisenberg – Uncertainty Principle• Exact position and momentum of an electron cannot be known simultaneously.
1928Paul Dirac – Dirac Equation• Predicted existence of antimatter (positron) and relativistic behavior of electrons.



Major Discoveries / Laws Related to Proton – Chronological Order

YearScientist / DiscoveryKey Points
1886Eugen Goldstein – Canal Rays (Anode Rays)• Discovered positively charged rays in discharge tube. 
• These rays led to the discovery of positive particles (protons).
1911Ernest Rutherford – Nuclear Model of Atom• Proposed that atom has a dense positively charged nucleus.
1917Ernest Rutherford – Discovery of Proton• Identified hydrogen nucleus as a fundamental particle (proton)
• Discovered during nitrogen bombardment experiment.
1919Ernest Rutherford – Artificial Nuclear Transmutation• First artificial nuclear reaction converting nitrogen into oxygen.
1920Ernest Rutherford – Naming of Proton• Proposed the name “proton” for the hydrogen nucleus.



Major Discoveries / Concepts Related to Neutron – Chronological Order

YearScientist / DiscoveryKey Points
1920Ernest Rutherford – Prediction of Neutron• Suggested the existence of a neutral particle in the nucleus
• Proposed to explain atomic mass not accounted for by protons.
1932James Chadwick – Discovery of Neutron• Discovered neutron by bombarding beryllium with alpha particles
• Confirmed the existence of neutral particle in nucleus.
1934Enrico Fermi – Neutron Bombardment Experiments• Used neutrons to produce artificial radioactivity
• Showed neutrons are effective for nuclear reactions.
1938Otto Hahn & Fritz Strassmann – Nuclear Fission Discovery• Found that uranium splits into lighter elements when bombarded with neutrons.
1939Lise Meitner & Otto Frisch – Explanation of Nuclear Fission• Explained the fission process and energy release due to neutron reaction.



Major Developments Related to Periodic Table – Chronological Order

YearScientist / LawKey Points
1817Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner – Döbereiner’s Triads• Elements grouped in sets of three (triads) with similar properties. 
• Atomic mass of middle element ≈ average of other two.
1862Alexandre-Émile Béguyer de Chancourtois – Telluric Screw• First attempt to arrange elements by atomic weight in spiral form.
1864John Newlands – Law of Octaves• Every 8th element shows similar properties when arranged by increasing atomic mass.
1869Dmitri Mendeleev – Periodic Law / Periodic Table• Elements arranged according to increasing atomic mass
 • Properties repeat periodically. 
• Left gaps for undiscovered elements.
1913Henry Moseley – Modern Periodic Law• Elements arranged by increasing atomic number instead of atomic mass.
1944Glenn T. Seaborg – Actinide Concept• Proposed separate actinide series below lanthanides. 
• Helped create the modern periodic table layout.
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