9
QuizMultiple Choice

The Historical Development of Atomic Theory

Question 9 • SVHS Chemistry 1 $FA

What did Ernest Rutherford’s gold foil experiment demonstrate about atoms?

Answer
A
Their positive charge is located in a small region that is called the nucleus.
B
Their negative charge is located in small particles that are called electrons.
C
Their nucleus makes up the majority of the volume of the atom.
D
Their electrons are floating in a sea of positive charges.

Explanation

Most alpha particles passed straight through the gold foil, but a few were deflected sharply or bounced back. Rutherford concluded that atoms are mostly empty space and that their positive charge and most of their mass are concentrated in a tiny central region called the nucleus. Thus, the experiment demonstrated that positive charge is located in a small region called the nucleus.

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