Question

Describe the experimental basis for believing that the nucleus occupies a very small fraction of the volume of the atom.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Rutherford conducted an experiment in which he took a thin gold particle film on which he passes alpha- particles. He noticed that:

• Most of the alpha particles get through the film and can be detected by the detector.
• Around small portion of the alpha particle deflected at small angles.
• A very very few alpha particle (approximately 1 out of 1 million alpha particles) just retraced their path which means come back from the center.

He concluded that:

Most of the space of the atom is empty and in the center of the atom , there is solid mass which is the cause of the alpha particles to come back. He gave the term nucleus to this solid mass.