Question

What are the limitations of Rutherford’s nuclear model?
A. Electrons should undergoes spiral path and fall into nucleus
B. Could not explain hydrogen spectrum
C. Electron lose energy while in motion
D. All of these

Answer 1

 Hint:
Rutherford discovered nucleus by his famous alpha particle experiment. Before that, three subatomic particles, namely, electrons, protons and neutrons were discovered.

Complete step by step answer:
-According to this model, the electrons accelerating around the nucleus emits electromagnetic radiation continuously and thus loses energy.
-The loss of energy results in the falling of electrons into the nucleus which again results in the collapse of the atom. But, this fact is contradicting with the real word observation, that is, atoms are stable.
-Rutherford’s model also does not explain about the distribution of electrons in an atom. Also this model was unable to explain the hydrogen spectrum. So, all the given statements are limitations of Rutherford’s nuclear model.

Hence, option D is correct.

Additional Information:
-In the alpha particle experiment of Rutherford, fast moving alpha particles are allowed to strike thin gold foil. It was found that,
1) Majority of alpha particles pass through gold foil without any deflection from the original path.
2) Few alpha particles deflected by small angles and some by large angles
3) Very few alpha particles rebound on hitting the gold foil
-From his alpha particle experiment he concluded that the nucleus of an atom is positively charged and is very hard and dense. Also the size of the nucleus is very small compared to the size of an atom.

Note:
 One major drawback of Rutherford's model is that it does not explain the stability of atoms. This drawback is explained by Neils Bohr. According to Neils Bohr, electrons revolve around the nucleus in certain orbits and while electrons move around the nucleus they do not radiate energy even though they are in accelerated motion.