Evolution of the Model of the Atom

Democritus' Contribution

400 BCE

hypothesized that atoms cannot be destroyed, differ in size, shape and temperature, are always moving, and are invisible. He believed that there are an infinite number of atoms

John Dalton's Atomic Model

1808

Theorized that matter consisted of indivisible atoms and that atoms arranged in different ways to create different compounds

Plum Pudding Model - JJ Thompson

1904

Confirmed that atoms are NOT divisible. thought that electrons lived in a positive field in the atom

Rutherford Model

1911

Theorized that atoms are mostly empty space. Found that electrons orbit around a positively charged nucleus

Neils' Bohr Model

1913

Edited Rutherford's model to explain color change of compounds

Erwin Schrödinger's Model

1926

Updated Neils Bohr's model because his only worked for the hydrogen atom