Final answer:
Rutherford's atomic model, known as the nuclear model, states that the center of the atom is a dense nucleus surrounded by electrons. Most of the atom is empty space, while the area between the nucleus and electrons is mostly empty space.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rutherford's atomic model, known as the nuclear model, was the first to state that at the center of the atom is a tiny, dense nucleus made up of protons and neutrons, while electrons are distributed around the nucleus and occupy most of the volume of the atom.
Rutherford concluded that the area between the nucleus and electrons is mostly empty space. His model was based on his experiments with alpha particles, where he observed that most of the particles passed through the gold, indicating that the atom is mostly empty space, while the particles that were highly deflected experienced a powerful force within the atom.