Question

List several observations Rutherford made in the experiment that discovered the nucleus.

a) Observations: Most alpha particles passed through the gold foil. A few were deflected. Conclusions: Atoms are mostly empty space with a small, dense nucleus.
b) Observations: Alpha particles moved in curved paths. Conclusions: Electrons are uniformly distributed within the atom.
c) Observations: Alpha particles were reflected back towards the source. Conclusions: Electrons are positively charged.
d) Observations: Alpha particles moved in straight lines. Conclusions: The nucleus is negatively charged.

Answer 1

Rutherford's experiment observed that most alpha particles passed through gold foil, suggesting atoms are mostly empty space, with a few particles being significantly deflected, pointing to a small, dense, positively charged nucleus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rutherford's gold foil experiment led to several observations that drastically changed the understanding of atomic structure. One key observation was that most alpha particles passed through the gold foil with little to no deflection, indicating that atoms are mostly empty space. Another critical observation was that a few alpha particles were deflected at significant angles, and some even rebounded back toward the source. This was explained by the conclusion that all the positive charge and most of the mass of the atom are concentrated in a very small, dense nucleus. The experiment dismissed the prevailing plum pudding model, which assumed a uniform distribution of mass and charge, and established the nuclear model wherein the positively charged nucleus is surrounded by orbiting electrons.