How are atomic models used?
1 Answer
An atomic model is a theory trying to explain the structure of the atom.
When the exact structure of the atom remained quite unknown, models were proposed based on experimental evidence of the properties of matter.
Such models would be purely theoretical constructs. However, they should be able to explain the basic properties of matter.
For example, when the electron was first discovered, then JJ Thompson proposed the plum cake model in which he took into consideration the two main points -
1) From the CRT experiments, it was clear that all matter had those electrons within then thus it would be logical to suppose that electrons were a part of atoms.
2) In order to explain the charge neutrality, he supposed that the sphere in which electrons are embedded is positively charged.
In his model, he took the electrons embedded into the positive sphere because he found that these electrons (not some positively charged particle) were emitted by a vast range of marerials.
Further, when Lord Rutherford discovered that the positive charge and most of the mass was concentrated in a small region called the nucleus, the proposed his model based on what evidence was available at that time on properties of atoms.
It was soon realized that the model was flawed and soon Bohr put up his model in which he used Quantum concepts of Planck and Einstein to explain stability of matter and the Hydrogen spectrum.
And they process continued when Sommerfeld proposed his model.
These models were used to explain and hence to understand properties of matter.
Only when the idea of electrons as particles in atoms was introduced, attempts were made to understand chemical bonding and other physical and chemical properties.
As of now, the electron cloud model which incorporates the principles of quantum mechanics is the most successful. From the concept of orbitals, one explains molecular structure, chemical bonding, hybridization etc and also things like spectrum of various materials.
That's why the atomic model is useful.
