Rutherford's alpha-particle scattering experiment led to the following conclusion:
A) Energies of electrons in different shells are quantized
B) A lot of space in an atom is empty
C) Certain types of metals show photoelectric effect
D) The charge on electron is quantized
Answer (2)
Rutherford's experiment in 1909 revealed that atoms contain a lot of empty space with a dense nucleus at the center. Therefore, the correct conclusion from his work is option B: 'A lot of space in an atom is empty.' This transformed our understanding of atomic structure significantly.
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Rutherford's alpha-particle scattering experiment led to significant insights into the structure of the atom.
In the experiment, Rutherford and his team directed a beam of alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil. They observed how these particles scattered after striking the foil. The majority of the alpha particles passed straight through the foil with little or no deflection. However, a small number were deflected at large angles, and a few even bounced back toward the source.
From these observations, Rutherford concluded that:
A Lot of Space in an Atom is Empty : The fact that most alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil without deflection suggested that atoms are mostly empty space. This was a surprising discovery because it contradicted the then-popular plum pudding model, which suggested that atoms were a dense mix of positive and negative charges.
Presence of a Dense Nucleus : The deflection of some particles at large angles, and the occasional back-scattering of particles, indicated a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at the center of the atom. The nucleus is what caused the deflection by repelling the positively charged alpha particles.
Concentration of Positive Charge : Since the alpha particles were positively charged, their deflection upon approaching certain areas indicated the presence of concentrated, positive charge—much of which was in the nucleus.
Therefore, the conclusion relevant to this experiment, among the given options, is B) A lot of space in an atom is empty . This discovery was crucial in developing the nuclear model of the atom, where electrons orbit a central nucleus, dramatically changing our understanding of atomic structure.
