La búsqueda de los componentes básicos de la materia, desde la campana de vidrio a la lámina de oro
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31349/RevMexFis.22.020301Keywords:
history of chemistry; cathode rays; X-rays; discovery of the electron; structure of matterAbstract
In this work, we show how the study of electrical discharges through gases led to the discovery of the matter constituents. We present a review of fundamental experiments to the discovery of the blocks that constitute all materials. Our narrative begins with the stoichiometry experiments of Antoine Lavoisier, who observing chemical reactions in controlled environments within a glass bell, managed to highlight the importance of precise measurements and to know some fundamental concepts involved in chemical reactions. Our presentation of the discoveries is not historical, instead is an essay of the hypotheses behind the experiments, some specific details of them, a discussion of the concepts involved, and how their results contributed to the modification of the ideas established. The essay is finished with the ideas of Ernest Rutherford about the atomic structure, which were conceived from the results of the experiments with gold sheets and alpha particles.
En este trabajo mostramos como el estudio de las descargas eléctricas a través de los gases condujo al descubrimiento de los constituyentes de la materia. Presentamos una revisión de experimentos fundamentales para el descubrimiento de los bloques que constituyen todos los materiales. La narración comienza con los experimentos de Lavoisier, quien al realizar reacciones químicas en ambientes controlados dentro de campanas de vidrio logró destacar la importancia de las medidas precisas y conocer algunos conceptos fundamentales involucrados en las reacciones químicas. Nuestra presentación de los descubrimientos no es histórica; sino que es un relato de las hipótesis que motivaron los experimentos, algunos detalles específicos de los mismos, una discusión de los conceptos involucrados y la forma en la que sus resultados contribuyeron a la modificación de las ideas establecidas. Concluimos con las ideas de Rutherford sobre la estructura de los átomos y sus experimentos con partículas alfa y láminas de oro.
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