Lecture

Atomic Theory: From Democritus to Bohr

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In course

CH-160(en): Advanced general chemistry (english)

This course aims to teach essential notions of the structure of matter, chemical equilibria and reactivity. Classes and exercises provide the means to analyze and solve, by reasoning and calculation, novel problems of geeneral chemistry. ...

Description

This lecture covers the historical development of atomic theory, starting from Democritus' concept of atoms to Bohr's model. It includes topics such as the laws of conservation of mass, definite proportions, and multiple proportions. The lecture also delves into the scientific method, the discovery of subatomic particles, and the emission spectra of atoms. Key concepts like the Bohr model, the hydrogen spectrum, and the limitations of the model are discussed, along with important breakthroughs by scientists like Einstein. The session concludes with a summary of the key ideas presented.

Instructors (2)

Thomas Rizzo

EDUCATION Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1983 B.S., Chemistry, cum laude, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1978 ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS Dean, Faculty of Basic Sciences, EPFL, 2004-present Head, Department of Chemistry, EPFL, 1997-2004 Professor of Chemistry, EPFL, 1994-present Professor of Chemistry, University of Rochester, 1993-1994 Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Rochester, 1986-1992 Research Associate, The James Franck Institute, University of Chicago, 1984-1986

Samuel Terrettaz

Teaching & PhD Courses Advanced general chemistry CH-160(f) This course aims at the acquisition of essential notions on the structure of matter, chemical equilibria and reactivity. Theoretical teaching and exercise provide the methodology to analyze and solve by reasoning and calculation novel problems of general chemistry. Advanced general chemistry CH-160(g) This course aims at the acquisition of essential notions on the structure of matter, chemical equilibria and reactivi

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Subatomic particle

In physics, a subatomic particle is a particle smaller than an atom. According to the Standard Model of particle physics, a subatomic particle can be either a composite particle, which is composed of other particles (for example, a proton, neutron, or meson), or an elementary particle, which is not composed of other particles (for example, an electron, photon, or muon). Particle physics and nuclear physics study these particles and how they interact.

Elementary particle

In particle physics, an elementary particle or fundamental particle is a subatomic particle that is not composed of other particles. The Standard Model presently recognizes seventeen distinct particles, twelve fermions and five bosons. As a consequence of flavor and color combinations and antimatter, the fermions and bosons are known to have 48 and 13 variations, respectively. Among the 61 elementary particles embraced by the Standard Model number electrons and other leptons, quarks, and the fundamental bosons.

Event (particle physics)

In particle physics, an event refers to the results just after a fundamental interaction takes place between subatomic particles, occurring in a very short time span, at a well-localized region of space. Because of the uncertainty principle, an event in particle physics does not have quite the same meaning as it does in the theory of relativity, in which an "event" is a point in spacetime which can be known exactly, i.e., a spacetime coordinate.

Particle

In the physical sciences, a particle (or corpuscule in older texts) is a small localized object which can be described by several physical or chemical properties, such as volume, density, or mass. They vary greatly in size or quantity, from subatomic particles like the electron, to microscopic particles like atoms and molecules, to macroscopic particles like powders and other granular materials. Particles can also be used to create scientific models of even larger objects depending on their density, such as humans moving in a crowd or celestial bodies in motion.

Bohr model

In atomic physics, the Bohr model or Rutherford–Bohr model of the atom, presented by Niels Bohr and Ernest Rutherford in 1913, consists of a small, dense nucleus surrounded by orbiting electrons. It is analogous to the structure of the Solar System, but with attraction provided by electrostatic force rather than gravity, and with the electron energies quantized (assuming only discrete values).

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