Evolution of Atomic Theory Project: Honors Chemistry
Project Topic:______
Process / Below Avg. / Satisfactory / Excellent
1. Has clear vision of final product / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
2. Properly organized to complete project / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
3. Managed time wisely / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
4. Acquired needed knowledge base / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
5. Communicated well with group members / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
6. Sources (4-5 and well documented for excl) / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
Product (Project) / Below Avg. / Satisfactory / Excellent
1. Atomic Model/ Explanation / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
2. Organization and structure / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
3. Creativity / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9
4. Demonstrates knowledge
-Historical Background?
-Experiment/Design?
-Conclusions/Contributions?
-Interesting… / 1, 2, 3 / 4, 5, 6 / 7, 8, 9, 10
Total Score:______
Teacher(s) Comments:
Your Job
Working in a group of 2-3, investigate how the atomic theory has evolved from ancient Greeks to the present.
Your Tasks
1) Research your topic, take good notes, get a grasp of the information
2) Create or find a model of the atoms for each time period (either 2D or 3D). You should be able to explain your model in detail and tell how this model demonstrates the atomic theories of the period.
3) Produce a creative presentation of your material (timeline, prezi, myfakewall, ppt, etc.)
Scientists and Atomic Theory
Aristotle and Empedocles and the 4 classical elements
Democritus and Leucippus and the Atomic theory and the word “atomos”
Thomson and the Plum Pudding Model
Rutherford and the Gold Foil Experiment and the Nuclear Model
Dalton and the Atomic Theory and Billiard Ball Model
Millikan and the Oil drop Experiment
Einstein and the Photoelectric Effect
Lavoisier and the Law of Conservation of Matter
Mendeleev and Henry Moseley and the Periodic Table
Marie Curie, Henri Becquerel, Lisa Meitner and Radioactivity and Splitting the Atom
James Chadwick and the Neutron
1. Historical Background on the Scientist
When did the scientist do his or her work?
How did his/her background lead to the research and discoveries?
Did they work on any other projects/concepts?
Who were some of his/her colleagues that supported or even collaborated on this work?
2. Experimental Design/Data collection
What tools did the scientist use to collect data?
How did they collect data?
If they did a true experiment, explain the methods/setup.
If they made a model, show their model and explain what it shows.
3. Conclusions and contributions to atomic theory
What did they conclude about the atom?
How did their research lead to this conclusion?
What aspects of chemistry that we learn today should be credited?
As a student in the class, it will be your job to connect the information together and
1. Be able to describe key experiments that show the understanding of the atom (oral quiz).
2. Match scientists with their contributions to the understanding of the atom (a matching quiz).
3. Answer the following open response question:
The concept of the atom has changed since the Greeks first began to describe why chemical changes occur. Discussing the roles of 3-4 scientists, explain how and why our understanding of the atom has changed. Make sure your answer includes an understanding of the 3 major particles that make up the atom—protons, neutrons, and electrons.