Atomic Theory Timeline Song

Words by Christy Johannesson

To the tune of the “Alphabet Song”

Verse 1

• Dalton’s model was the “Billiard Ball”

• Atoms are indivisible• Thomson used the Cathode Ray• Electrons are charged in a negative

way• His model was “Plum Pudding” • Or a chocolate chip cookie

Verse 2

• Becquerel found by accident• Radiation from an atom went• Oil drops were used by Millikan• To find the mass and charge of an

electron• While they changed the models none• They paved the way for others to

come

Verse 3

• Rutherford experimented with Gold Foil

• To find the nucleus he did toil• Its positive charge and tiny size• Showed that he was rather wise• Electrons moving ‘round the nucleus• Describes the “Nuclear Model” for us

Verse 4

• Bohr said electrons move in orbits round

• In energy levels they can be found• This explains the reason behind• The bright-line spectrum that we

find• “Planetary Model” it was called• But Bohr knew that it was flawed

Verse 5

• The orbital proposed by Schrödinger• Described most likely where electrons

were• Quantum mechanics was the new

game• “Electron Cloud” was the model’s name• Finally Chadwick found the neutron• But atomic theory still moves on