Final answer:
The α-particle scattering experiment using platinum foil would yield results akin to those from the gold foil experiment, with most particles passing through and few being deflected at large angles, supporting Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the α-particle scattering experiment were carried out using a platinum foil instead of a gold foil, we would expect similar results to Rutherford's original findings. This is because both gold and platinum are heavy metals with a high atomic mass, suggesting similar nuclear charges and densities. As with gold, most α-particles would likely pass straight through the platinum foil with minimal deflection, due to the atom being mostly empty space.
Only a small fraction of α-particles would be deflected at large angles or bounce back, indicating a collision with a small, dense, positively charged nucleus. Since platinum has a higher atomic number than gold, it’s possible that an even smaller fraction of α-particles would be scattered because of the increased nuclear charge. However, the basic observations of the experiment would support the same nuclear theory proposed by Rutherford.