CBSE Class 9 Science Chapter-4 Important Questions - FREE PDF Download
Structure of Atom Class 9 Important Questions: CBSE Science Chapter 4
FAQs on Structure of Atom Class 9 Important Questions: CBSE Science Chapter 4
1. What are the three main sub-atomic particles, and what are their respective charges and locations within an atom?
The three main sub-atomic particles are electrons, protons, and neutrons. Their properties are:
- Protons (p+): These are positively charged particles located inside the nucleus of the atom.
- Neutrons (n⁰): These have no charge (are neutral) and are also located inside the nucleus along with protons.
- Electrons (e-): These are negatively charged particles that revolve around the nucleus in specific energy shells or orbits.
2. What were the key observations from Rutherford's alpha-particle scattering experiment that are important for the CBSE Class 9 exam?
Rutherford's gold foil experiment yielded three crucial observations:
- Most of the fast-moving alpha-particles passed straight through the gold foil, indicating that most of the space inside an atom is empty.
- Some alpha-particles were deflected by small angles, suggesting the presence of a positive charge within the atom that repelled the positively charged alpha-particles.
- A very small fraction of alpha-particles (about 1 in 12,000) completely rebounded, indicating that the positive charge and mass of the atom are concentrated in a very small, dense region called the nucleus.
3. What were the major limitations of Rutherford's atomic model?
The primary limitation of Rutherford's model was its inability to explain the stability of the atom. According to classical physics, an electron revolving in a circular orbit would accelerate and continuously radiate energy. This loss of energy would cause the electron to spiral into the nucleus, making the atom unstable. However, we know that atoms are stable. This was a major drawback that Bohr's model later addressed.
4. State the main postulates of Bohr's model of the atom, which is a key topic in this chapter.
Niels Bohr proposed a model with the following key postulates:
- Electrons revolve around the nucleus in special, discrete orbits known as energy levels or shells.
- While revolving in these discrete orbits, electrons do not radiate energy, which explains the stability of atoms.
- These orbits or shells are represented by the letters K, L, M, N,... or the numbers n=1, 2, 3, 4,... starting from the centremost shell.
- An electron can jump from a lower energy level to a higher one by absorbing energy, and it emits energy when it jumps from a higher level to a lower one.
5. What is the difference between atomic number (Z) and mass number (A)?
The atomic number and mass number are fundamental properties of an atom:
- Atomic Number (Z) is the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom. It is the unique identity of an element (e.g., Carbon's Z is always 6).
- Mass Number (A) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. It represents the approximate mass of the atom. The number of neutrons can be calculated as A - Z.
6. How do you find the valency of an element from its electronic configuration? Explain with the example of Magnesium (Z=12).
Valency is the combining capacity of an element, determined by the number of electrons in its outermost shell (valence electrons). For Magnesium (Z=12), the electronic configuration is 2, 8, 2. The outermost shell has 2 electrons. It is easier for Magnesium to lose these 2 electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration (2, 8). Therefore, the valency of Magnesium is 2.
7. What are isotopes? Explain why isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties but different physical properties.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same atomic number but a different mass number. This means they have the same number of protons and electrons, but a different number of neutrons.
- Chemical properties are the same because they are determined by the number of valence electrons, which is identical for all isotopes of an element.
- Physical properties like mass, density, and boiling point can differ because they depend on the mass number, which varies due to the different number of neutrons in the nucleus. For example, Chlorine-35 and Chlorine-37 are isotopes of Chlorine.
8. What are isobars? Give one example to show how they differ from isotopes.
Isobars are atoms of different elements that have the same mass number but different atomic numbers. For example, Argon ($^{40}_{18}$Ar) and Calcium ($^{40}_{20}$Ca) are isobars. Both have a mass number of 40, but Argon has 18 protons while Calcium has 20 protons. This is the opposite of isotopes, which are atoms of the same element with different mass numbers.
9. As per the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus, what are two important applications of isotopes that students should know?
Two very important applications of isotopes are:
- An isotope of Uranium (U-235) is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors for generating electricity.
- An isotope of Cobalt (Co-60) is used in the treatment of cancer through radiotherapy.
- An isotope of Iodine (I-131) is used in the treatment of goitre.
10. Why is an atom considered electrically neutral even though it contains charged particles?
An atom is electrically neutral because it contains an equal number of protons and electrons. The total positive charge from the protons in the nucleus is exactly balanced by the total negative charge from the electrons revolving around the nucleus. This balance of opposite charges results in a net charge of zero, making the atom neutral as a whole.
11. Why is the atomic number a more fundamental property of an element than its atomic mass?
The atomic number (number of protons) is more fundamental because it uniquely identifies an element. All atoms of a particular element have the same number of protons. The chemical properties of an element are determined by its electronic configuration, which in turn depends on the number of electrons, which is equal to the number of protons in a neutral atom. Atomic mass can vary for the same element due to the presence of isotopes, so it doesn't define the element's identity or chemical behaviour as precisely as the atomic number does.
12. An atom of an element contains 13 protons and 14 neutrons. What is its atomic number, mass number, and valency? Will it form a cation or an anion?
Based on the given information:
- Atomic Number (Z) = Number of protons = 13. The element is Aluminium (Al).
- Mass Number (A) = Number of protons + Number of neutrons = 13 + 14 = 27.
- Electronic Configuration (for 13 electrons) is 2, 8, 3.
- Valency: The outermost shell has 3 electrons. It will lose these 3 electrons to become stable. So, its valency is 3.
- Since it loses electrons (negatively charged particles), the atom will form a positively charged ion (cation), specifically Al³⁺.

















