Q. 4.19 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

What did Rutherford determine about the structure of the atom from his gold-foil experiment?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Rutherford found that positively charged particles as well as the majority of an atom's mass were concentrated in a quite small volume and the nucleus of an atom is surrounded by negatively charged electrons. The atom is stable by electrostatic force of attraction between electrons and protons.

Step 1: Given information

We need to find out what Rutherford discovered about atomic structure from his gold-foil experiment.

Step 2: Explanation

Based on his observations and conclusions, Rutherford proposed an atomic structure. The atomic hypothesis of Rutherford states: 

1. Positively charged particles as well as the majority of an atom's mass were concentrated in a quite small volume. He referred to this part of the atom as the nucleus.
2. A strong electrostatic force of attraction attracts electrons toward the nucleus, which is a dense mass of positively charged particles.
3. Due to a strong electrostatic force of attraction electrons are attracted towards the nucleus, which is a dense mass of positively charged particles.