Final answer:
The statement is false; the electron cloud model describes the probability of an electron's location around the nucleus, not an exact position.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence stating that scientists use the electron cloud model to describe the exact location of electrons around the nucleus is false. In reality, the electron cloud model is used to determine the probability of finding an electron in a certain area around the nucleus, not the exact position. This model represents the uncertainty in the electron's position due to the quantum mechanical nature of particles, as described by Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. Instead of precise orbits, electrons exist in regions of space called orbitals, where the probability cloud's density is higher where an electron is more likely to be found. The analogy of dropping a marker onto a piece of paper with a dot at the center representing the nucleus helps visualize that there are areas where the marker (electron) is more likely to hit (be found), and less likely as we move away from the nucleus.
Measurements of an electron's position will not reveal a fixed orbit, but rather a cloud of probability where the electron may be found. The density of this cloud is affected by the Coulomb force as well, which allows for the atom to interact with nearby charges. Although atoms remain neutral, the separation of charge within them can result in Coulombic interactions.