Chapter - 4 ⁺ ⁻ ∴

Structure of the atoms

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Page: 47
Q1. What are the canal rays ?
Ans:
Canal rays (or anode rays) are beams of positively
charged particles which move towards the negative
electrode (cathode) in a discharge tube when high
voltage electricity is passed through a gas at very low
pressure taken in the discharge tube.

Q2. If an atom contains one electron and one proton,

will it carry any charge or not?
Ans:
Since a proton is a positively charged particle and an
electron is a negatively charged particle, then net
charge becomes neutral.

Page: 49
Q1. On the basis of Thomson’s model of an atom,
explain how the atom is neutral as a whole.
Ans:
As per Thomson’s model of an atom,
(i) An atom contains a positively charged sphere in
which the negatively charged electrons are embedded.

(ii) Electrons and protons are equal in magnitude,

hence an atom on the whole is electrically neutral.
Q2. On the basis of Rutherford’s model of an atom,
which subatomic particle is present in the nucleus of an
atom ?
Ans:
As per Rutherford’s model of an atom, the positively
charged protons are subatomic particles present in the
nucleus.

Q3. Draw a sketch of Bohr’s model of an atom with

three shells.
Ans:

Q4. What do you think would be the observation if the

alpha particle scattering experiment is carried out using
a foil of a metal other than gold ?
Ans:
In the alpha particle scattering experiment, when any
other metal foil is used instead of gold, the observation
would remain the same. This is because the structure of
an atom when considered individually remains the
same.

Page: 49
Q1. Name the three subatomic particles of an atom.
Ans:
An atom consists of three subatomic particles:

Protons – positively charged

Electrons – negatively charged
Neutrons – no charge

Q2. Helium atom has an atomic mass of 4 u and two

protons in its nucleus. How many neutrons does it
have?
Ans:
Atomic mass of helium atom = 4u,
Number of protons are 2
Atomic mass = number of protons + number of
neutrons

4 = 2 + number of neutrons

Number of neutrons = 4 – 2 = 2

Hence, Helium has 2 neutrons.

Page: 50
Q1. Write the distribution of electrons in Carbon and
Sodium atoms.
Ans:
A carbon atom contains a total of 6 electrons.
K-shell = 2 electrons
L-shell = 4 electrons
K L
Carbon atom as 2 4

Sodium atom = 11
K-shell = 2 electrons L-shell = 8 electrons
M-shell = 1 electron
K LM
Sodium atom 2 8 1

Q2. If K and L shells of an atom are full, then what

would be the total number of electrons in the atom ?
Ans:
K shell can hold 2 electrons
L shell can hold 8 electrons
when both the shells are full, the total number of
electrons present in the atom = 2 + 8 = 10 electrons.

Page: 52
Q1. How will you find the valency of chlorine, sulphur
and magnesium ?
Ans:
Valency of chlorine:
The electronic configuration of chlorine = K L M
2 8 7
To become octet it need 1 more electron
So it’s valency is 1
Valency of Sulphur:

The electronic configuration of Sulphur = K L M

2 8 6
To become octet it need 2 more electrons
So it’s valency is 2

Valency of magnesium:

The electronic configuration of Magnesium = K L M

2 8 2

To become octet it has to lose 2 electrons so valency is

2.

Page: 52
Q1. If the number of electrons in an atom is 8 and
number of protons is also 8, then

(i) What is the atomic number of the atom ?

(ii) What is the charge on the atom ?

Ans:
Number of electrons = 8
Number of protons = 8

(i) The atomic number of an atom is the same as the

number of protons in that atom, hence its atomic
number is 8.
(ii) In an atom, the number of protons is equal to the
number of electrons. Hence both the charges – positive
and negative neutralize each other. Therefore, the atom
does not possess any charge,(neutral).

Q2. With the help of a given Table, find out the mass
number of oxygen and sulphur atom
Table: Composition of Atoms of the First Eighteen
Elements with Electron Distribution in Various Shells.
Name of Element Symbol Atomic number Number
of Protons

Ans:
(a) To find the mass number of Oxygen:

Atomic mass number = Number of protons + number

of neutrons = 8 + 8 = 16

(b) To find the mass number of Sulphur:

Atomic mass number = Number of protons + number

of neutrons = 16 + 16 = 32

Page: 53
Q1. For the symbol H, D and T, tabulate three
subatomic particles found in each of them.
Ans:
The following table depicts the subatomic particles in
Hydrogen (H), Deuterium (D), and Tritium(T).

Q2. Write the electronic configuration of any one pair

of isotopes and isobar.
Ans:
(a) Isotopes:
Isotopes are atoms which have the same number of
protons but different number of neutrons.
Example:
Carbon molecule exists as ¹²C₆ and ¹⁴C₆ but when their
electronic configuration is noticed, both have
K = 2 and L = 4

(b) Isobars:
Isobars are atoms which have the same mass number
but different atomic number
Electronic configuration is;
Example: Ca & Ar
⁴⁰Ca₂₀
K = 2, L = 8, M = 8, N = 2.

Electronic configuration of ⁴⁰Ar₁₈

K = 2, L = 8, M =8

Page: 54
Q1. Compare the properties of electrons, protons and
neutrons.
Ans:
Q2. What are the limitations of J.J.Thomson’s model of
the atom ?
Ans:
Limitations of the J.J. Thomson’s model of an atom.

The model failed to explain the outcome of alpha

particles

The model failed to explain why some alpha particles

diverted through some angle and why some rebound
and rest pass through gold foil.

Q3. What are the limitations of Rutherford’s model of

the atom ?
Ans:
His model failed to explain the stability of atoms.
The arrangement of electrons in a circular path was not
defined.

Any particle that is moving in a circular path would

undergo acceleration and lose energy and would fall
into the nucleus and
hence atoms must be highly unstable.
Q4. Describe Bohr’s model of the atom.
Ans:
An atom holds the nucleus at the centre.
Negatively charged electrons revolve around the
nucleus.

Negatively charged electrons revolve around the

nucleus.

The atoms in it contain distinct orbits of electrons.

Electrons do not radiate energy when they are in their

orbits.

The distinct orbits are named as K, L, M, N orbits.

Numbers used to denote them are n=1, 2, 3, 4
Q5. Compare all the proposed models of an atom given
in this chapter.
Ans:
Thomson’s model:
● Sphere is positively charged
● Electrons are negatively charged and scattered all
through the inside of the sphere
● Positively charged equals negatively charged
● The net charge of an atom is zero

Rutherford model:
● The nucleus is at the centre and is positively
charged holding the entire mass
● Electrons are negatively charged revolving in a well
defined path
● In comparison with the nucleus the size of the atom
is very large
● Force of attraction of the electrons to words the
nucleus is balanced by centrifugal force acting away
from it, as a result electrons are not drawn close to
the nucleus
Bohr’s model
● Nucleus is present at the centre and is positively
charged
● Electrons are negatively charged revolving around
but do not radiate energy
● The distinct orbits are labelled as K, L, M, N

Q6. Summarise the rules

for writing of distribution of electrons in various shells
for the first eighteen elements.
Ans:
Maximum number of electrons in a shell
= 2n²
K = 2 × 1²
K=2
L = 2 × 2²
L=8
M = 2 × 3²
M = 18
N = 2 × 4²
N = 32

Q7. Define valency by taking examples of silicon and

oxygen.
Ans:
Valency is the number of atoms of a particular element
that is combined with one atom of another element to
form a molecule. Valency is also known as molecular
weight.
Example:
Silicon:
atomic number is 14

electronic configuration is
K L M
2 8 4

To complete the octet it requires 4 more electrons.

so it’s valency is 4

To find the valency of oxygen:

Oxygen:
Atomic number of oxygen is 8

electronic K L
configuration is 2, 6

oxygen requires 2 more electrons to complete octet

So it’s valency is 2

Q8. Explain with examples:

(i) Atomic number
(ii) Mass number
(iii) Isotopes and
(iv) Isobars
Give any two uses of isotopes.
Ans:
(i) The number of positively charged protons present in
the nucleus of an atom is defined as the atomic number
and is denoted by Z.
Example:
Hydrogen has one proton in its nucleus, hence its
atomic number is one.

(ii) The total number of protons and neutrons present

in the nucleus of an atom is known as the mass
number.
It is denoted by A. ⁴⁰Ca₂₀
Mass number is 40. Atomic number is 20.
(iii) The atoms which have the same number of protons
but different numbers of neutrons are referred to as
isotopes. Hence the mass number varies.
Example: The most simple example is the Carbon
molecule which exists as
¹²C₆ and ¹⁴C₆

(iv) Isobars:
Isobars are atoms which have the same mass number
but differ in the atomic number.
Examples:
⁴⁰Ar₁₈ and ⁴⁰Ca₂₀

Uses of isotopes:
The isotope of Iodine atom is used to treat goitre and
iodine deficient disease.

In the treatment of cancer, an isotope of cobalt is used.

Fuel for nuclear reactors is derived from the isotopes of

the Uranium atom.

Q9. Na⁺ has completely filled

K and L shells. Explain.
Ans:
The atomic number of sodium is 11.
Electronic configuration is
K L M
2 8 1
Sodium atom become Na⁺ after losing 1 electron
Now, Na⁺
K L
2 8
It is very difficult to eliminate the electron from a filled
state as it is very stable.

Q10. If a bromine atom is available in the form of, say,

two isotopes ₃₅Br⁷⁹ (49.7%) and ₃₅Br⁸¹ (50.3%),
calculate the average atomic mass of Bromine atom.
Ans:
The atomic mass of an element is the mass of one atom
of that element.
Average atomic mass takes into account the isotopic
abundance.

Isotope of bromine with atomic mass

79 u = 49.7%

Therefore, Contribution of
₃₅Br⁷⁹ to atomic mass = (79 × 49.7)/100
⇒ 39.26 u

Isotope of bromine with atomic mass

81 u = 50.3%

Contribution of ₃₅Br⁸¹ to the atomic mass of bromine

= (81 × 50.3)/100
⇒ 40.64u
Hence,
average atomic mass of the bromine atom
= 39.26 + 40.64 u
= 79.9u

Q11. The average atomic mass of a sample of an

element X is 16.2u. What are the percentages of
isotopes ₈X¹⁶ and ₈X¹⁸ in the sample ?
Ans:
Let the percentage of ₈X¹⁶ be ‘a’ and that of ₈X¹⁸ be
‘100-a’.

As per given data,

16.2u = 16 a / 100 + 18 (100 − a) /100

1620 = 16a + 1800 – 18a

1620 = 1800 – 2a

a = 90%

Hence, the percentage of isotope in the sample ₈X¹⁶ is

90% and that of ₈X¹⁸
= 100 − a
= 100 − 90 = 10%

Q12. If Z = 3, what would be the valency of the element

? Also, name the element.
Ans:
Atomic number= Z = 3
The element with atomic number 3 is Lithium.

Q13. Composition of the nuclei of two atomic species X

and Y are given as under
X Y
Protons = 6 6
Neutrons = 6 8

Give the mass numbers of X and Y. What is the relation

between the two species ?
Ans:
Mass number of X Protons + neutron
= 6 + 6 = 12

Mass number of Y Protons + neutrons

= 6 + 8 = 14

They are the same element as their atomic numbers are

the same.

They are isotopes as they have different atomic mass.

Q14. For the following statements, write T for true and

F for false.

(a) J.J. Thomson proposed that the nucleus of an atom

contains only nucleons.

(b) A neutron is formed by an electron and a proton

combining together. Therefore it is neutral.
(c) The mass of an electron is about 1/2000 times that
of proton.

(d) An isotope of iodine is used for making tincture

iodine, which is used as a medicine.
Ans:
(a) Statement is False
(b) Statement is False
(c) Statement is True
(d) Statement is False

Put a tick(✓) against correct choice and cross(x)

against wrong choice in questions 15,16 and 17.

Q15. Rutherford’s alpha – particle scattering

experiment was responsible for the discovery of
(a) Atomic nucleus
(b) Electron
(c) Proton
(d) Neutron
Ans:
(a) Atomic nucleus

Q16. Isotopes of an element have

(a) The same physical properties
(b) Different chemical properties
(c) Different number of neutrons
(d) Different atomic numbers.
Ans:
(c) Different number of neutrons

Q17. Number of valence electrons in Cl⁻ ion are:

(a) 16
(b) 8
(c) 17
(d) 18
Ans: (b) 8

Q18. Which one of the following is a correct electronic

configuration of Sodium ?
(a) 2, 8
(b) 8, 2, 1
(c) 2, 1, 8
(d) 2, 8, 1
Ans: (d) 2, 8, 1

Q19. Complete the following table:

Ans:
Atomic number(Z) =Number of protons

Mass number = Number of neutrons + atomic number

Mass number (A) = Number of neutrons + number of

neutrons