Chapter 26.1, Problem 8PP

To determine

The conclusion that had been made by J.J. Thomson about the positive charge of a hydrogen atom.

Answer to Problem 8PP

The positive ions are left in the hydrogen atom and only the electrons could be removed from a hydrogen atom.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

J.J. Thomson did experiment to determine the charge-to-mass ratio of electrons i.e. $\left(\frac{q}{m}\right)$ . By knowing $\left(\frac{q}{m}\right)$ and charge of an electron, one can determine the mass of an electron. Thomson conducted experiment to demonstrate that atoms consisted of subatomic particles with both positive and negative charges. He determined that the particles charged negatively are much lighter than the particles charged positively.

In $1897$ , J.J. Thomson performed the first experiment to determine the charge to mass ratio of an electron. He used a cathode ray tube in where electron are generated by applying between the two slit i.e. cathode ray. These rays then hit and ionize the gas sample inside the tube. The electrons ejected from the gas travel ionization to anode. Actually, these rays are electrons produced from the ionized gas within the tube.

Conclusion:

Hence, only an electron could be removed from a hydrogen atom and the proton was left in the atom.