Question

Write two important limitations of Rutherford nuclear model of atom.

Answer 1

Hint: Rutherford nuclear model describes the planetary model of the atom. The limitations of the Rutherford nuclear model are based on the description of the structure of atoms. One can elaborate on any two limitations of the Rutherford nuclear model of the atom.

Complete step by step answer:
The limitations of the Rutherford nuclear model of atom are described as below,
1) The first limitation of the Rutherford nuclear model of the atom is that it could not explain the stability of an atom. According to the law of electrodynamics, a revolving electron in an unstable atom should emit radiation and thus lose energy continuously. This will result in its drift towards the nucleus and ultimately falling into the nucleus which will collapse the atom. But it is found that an atom is stable which proves the Rutherford nuclear model of the atom is wrong.
2) The second limitation of the Rutherford nuclear model of an atom is that it could not explain why the atoms emit the light of discrete wavelength. For example, the hydrogen atom has only one proton and one electron which cannot emit a complex spectrum of a specific wavelength and Rutherford nuclear model of atom failed to prove this.

Note:
The concept of the Rutherford nuclear model of an atom. The Rutherford nuclear model of atom describes the atom as the dense, tiny, and positively charged core which is called as the nucleus where all the mass is concentrated, around that the negative constituents that are light are also called as electrons circulate the nucleus much like the concept of planets revolving the sun.