NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Science Chapter 4 Structure of the Atom

No, it is the case when the atom has no charge. In case of cation (positively charged), atomic number is more than the number of electrons and in case of anion (negatively charged), it is less than the number of electrons.

This can be established on the basis of Rutherford scattering experiment. Since some alpha particles were repelled by the nucleus of the atom, it is expected to have the same charge as on alpha particles. Therefore, nucleus of an atom has positive charge.

No, these were discovered later on by Chadwick in 1931 whereas scattering experiment was performed by Rutherford in 1911.

Isotopes of an elements have same number of electrons and therefore, same value shell electronic distribution. Since the chemical properties of the atoms are related to valence shell configurations, the isotopes are chemically similar.

The different isotopes of an element differ in their mass number as well as atomic masses. In order to represent the atomic mass of the element, we have to consider average of the atomic masses of the different isotopes and also the ratio in which these are present. In most of the cases, the average comes out to be in fraction. Therefore, these elements have fractional atomic masses.

A proton is the positively charged residue left when hydrogen gas is enclosed in the in the discharge tube. For the other gases, the positive residues formed contain different number of protons. Therefore, proton is not a universal particle like electron.

According to J.J. Thomson’s model of an atom, an atom consists of a positively charged sphere with electrons embedded in it. However, it was later found that the positively charged particles reside at the center of the atom called the nucleus, and the electrons revolve around the nucleus.

According to Rutherford’s model of an atom, electrons revolve around the nucleus in fixed orbits. But, an electron revolving in circular orbits will not be stable because during revolution, it will experience acceleration. Due to acceleration, the electrons will lose energy in the form of radiation and fall into the nucleus. In such a case, the atom would be highly unstable and collapse.

The valency of an element is the combining capacity of that element. The valency of an element is determined by the number of valence electrons present in the atom of that element. If the number of valence electrons of the atom of an element is less than or equal to four, then the valency of that element is equal to the number of valence electrons. For example, the atom of silicon has four valence electrons. Thus, the valency of silicon is four. On the other hand, if the number of valence electrons of the atom of an element is greater than four, then the valency of that element is obtained by subtracting the number of valence electrons from eight. For example, the atom of oxygen has six valence electrons. Thus, the valency of oxygen is (8 − 6) i.e., two.

Atomic number: The atomic number of an element is the total number of protons present in the atom of that element. For example, nitrogen has 7 protons in its atom. Thus, the atomic number of nitrogen is 7.

Isobars: They are atoms of different elements having same mass number but different atomic number. For example calcium, atomic number 20 and argon, atomic number 18. The number of electrons in these atoms is different, but the mass number of both these elements is 40. That is, the total number of neutrons is the same in the atoms of this pair of elements.

By Z = 3, we mean that the atomic number of the element is 3. Its electronic configuration is 2, 1. Hence, the valency of the element is 1 (since the outermost shell has only one electron). Therefore, the element with Z = 3 is lithium.