STRUCTURE OF ATOM –
COMPLETE STUDY NOTES
Class 11 Chemistry | For JEE & CBSE Boards
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Discovery of Subatomic Particles
3. Atomic Models
4. Atomic Number & Mass Number
5. Isotopes and Isobars
6. Electromagnetic Radiation and Atomic Spectra
7. Bohr’s Atomic Model & Spectral Series
8. Quantum Mechanical Model
9. Quantum Numbers
10. Atomic Orbitals & Shapes
11. Electronic Configuration
12. Key Formulae Sheet
13. Concept Traps & Common Mistakes
14. Quick Revision Sheet
15. Sample Questions with Solutions
16. Extra Practice: Diagram & Calculation-Based Questions
✍ 1. Introduction
• Atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter.
• Early Indian and Greek philosophies: Matter made of indivisible
particles (anu).
• Dalton’s Atomic Theory (1808):
◦ All matter consists of indivisible atoms.
◦ Atoms of the same element are identical.
◦ Compounds = combination of atoms.
◦ Limitation: Could not explain internal structure of atoms.
⚛ 2. Discovery of Subatomic Particles
Electron – J.J. Thomson (1897)
• Cathode Ray Tube Experiment: Showed negatively charged
electrons.
• e/m = 1.758 × 10¹¹ C/kg
Millikan’s Oil Drop Experiment (1909)
• Charge of electron: –1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ C
• Mass: 9.109 × 10⁻³¹ kg
Proton – Goldstein via Anode Rays
• Positive charge, mass ≈ 1.673 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
Neutron – James Chadwick (1932)
• Neutral charge, mass ≈ 1.675 × 10⁻²⁷ kg
| Particle | Charge | Mass (kg) | Relative Mass |
|-----------|------------------|-------------------|----------------| | Electron | –1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C |
9.1×10⁻³¹ | ~1/1836 | | Proton | +1.602×10⁻¹⁹ C | 1.673×10⁻²⁷ | 1 | |
Neutron | 0 | 1.675×10⁻²⁷ | 1 |
3. Atomic Models
Dalton's Model
• Indivisible atom model.
Thomson's "Plum Pudding" Model
• Atom = positively charged sphere + embedded electrons.
Rutherford's Model
• Nucleus discovered via gold foil experiment.
• Atom = nucleus + orbiting electrons.
• Could not explain stability.
Bohr’s Model
• Electrons revolve in discrete energy levels.
• E is quantized. Transitions cause absorption/emission of energy.
4. Atomic Number & Mass Number
• Atomic Number (Z) = No. of protons = No. of electrons
• Mass Number (A) = Protons + Neutrons
•A=Z+n
5. Isotopes and Isobars
| Property | Isotopes | Isobars | |-----------|-------------------|-------------------| | Z |
Same | Different | | A | Different | Same | | Example | ¹H, ²H, ³H | ⁴⁰Ca, ⁴⁰Ar |
6. Electromagnetic Radiation & Atomic
Spectra
• Wave nature: c = νλ
• Planck’s Equation: E = hν
• Photoelectric Effect: Light above threshold → e⁻ ejected
• Spectrum: Line spectra show quantized energy levels.
7. Bohr’s Atomic Model & Spectral Series
• Energy of nth orbit: Eₙ = –13.6 Z² / n² eV
• Radius: rₙ = 0.529 × n² / Z Å
| Series | Region | Transition To n= | |----------|-----------|------------------| | Lyman |
UV | 1 | | Balmer | Visible | 2 | | Paschen | IR | 3 |
8. Quantum Mechanical Model
• de Broglie: λ = h / mv
• Heisenberg: Δx·Δp ≥ h / 4π
• Schrödinger: Ψ² = probability distribution
9. Quantum Numbers
| Q. No. | Symbol | Values | Meaning |
|-------------|--------|----------------|------------------| | Principal | n | 1, 2, 3... | Energy
level | | Azimuthal | l | 0 to n–1 | Subshell shape | | Magnetic | m | –l to +l |
Orientation | | Spin | s | +½ or –½ | Spin direction |
10. Atomic Orbitals & Shapes
| Orbital | Shape | Orientations | |---------|------------|--------------| | s | Spherical | 1
| | p | Dumbbell | 3 | | d | Cloverleaf | 5 |
11. Electronic Configuration
• Aufbau: Lowest energy filled first
• Pauli: No two e⁻ same 4 Q.N.
• Hund’s Rule: Maximum unpaired e⁻
Examples:
- O (Z=8): 1s² 2s² 2p⁴
- Na (Z=11): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
12. Key Formula Sheet
• E = hν = hc/λ
• λ = h / mv
• Eₙ = –13.6 Z² / n²
• rₙ = 0.529 × n² / Z
• Δx·Δp ≥ h / 4π
⚠ 13. Concept Traps & Mistakes
• Wrong values of Q.N.s
• Violation of Aufbau or Hund
• Mixing isotopes vs. isobars
14. Quick Revision Sheet
Atom = nucleus + electrons
e⁻ transitions → spectra
n, l, m, s → quantum set
Shapes: s-sphere, p-dumbbell
Orbitals: filled by Aufbau
15. Sample Questions with Solutions
Q1. Define isotopes & isobars
Ans: Isotopes – same Z, diff A (¹H, ²H)
Isobars – same A, diff Z (⁴⁰Ca, ⁴⁰Ar)
Q2. Find λ for E = 3×10⁻¹⁹ J
λ = hc/E = 662.6 nm
16. Extra Practice
Q. Draw: Rutherford & Bohr model
Q. Calculate: de Broglie λ of e⁻
Q. Match: Q.N. with physical meaning
| QN | Represents | |----|---------------| | n | Energy Level | | l | Shape | | m |
Orientation | | s | Spin |
END OF NOTES
