Question

Which part of the atom was discovered by Rutherford?

Answer 1

Hint: This question is from the chapter atoms and requires the understanding of the various models given by various scientists regarding the atom. Where we have to consider the model of an atom given by Ernest Rutherford and we have to find which part of the atom was discovered by him.

Complete step by step answer:
Ernest Rutherford Model of an atom by conducting an Alpha scattering experiment. In this experiment he bombarded a thin sheet of gold with Alpha particles and observed the motion of the Alpha particles when they interacted with the gold foil.
The observations of the experiment were: -
1. A large fraction of the Alpha particles bombarded towards the gold sheet passed through it without showing any change in path, this concluded that the most of the space in an atom is empty.
2. Some fraction of the Alpha particles get deflected by the Gold sheet by small angles, this proved that the positive charge in an atom is not uniformly distributed, the positive charge in an atom is concentrated in a very small area.
3. Very few of the total Alpha particles bombarded got deflected back with a 180-degree angle of deflection. Since the number of these particles were very less, it was concluded that the volume occupied by the positively charged particles in an atom is very small in comparison to its whole volume.
Therefore, it was concluded that the whole positive charge present in an atom is confined to a very small mass which was named nucleus.

Therefore, the part of the atom discovered by Rutherford was the nucleus.

Note:
In this type of question students should have good knowledge of all the models given by various scientists about the atom and failures of each of the models and the fact that each model was established. There is a fair chance that the students will get confused among the various atomic models therefore the students must be careful about the results of each of the experiments given by these scientists