11. Features of Rutherford proposed model of atom

Who proposed the nuclear model of the atom?

Ernest Rutherford in 1911.

What is the key feature of Rutherford’s atomic model?

A small, dense nucleus at the center of the atom.

What does the nucleus contain?

Most of the atom’s mass and positive charge.

How are electrons arranged in Rutherford’s model?

Electrons orbit the nucleus at a relatively large distance, with most of the atom being empty space.

What holds the electrons in orbit around the nucleus?

Electrostatic forces between the negatively charged electrons and the positively charged nucleus.

What analogy is used to describe Rutherford’s atomic model?

The "planetary model" (electrons orbiting a central nucleus like planets around the Sun).

What limitation did Rutherford’s model have regarding electron stability?

It could not explain why electrons do not spiral into the nucleus despite emitting radiation.

What did Rutherford’s model fail to explain about atomic spectra?

The discrete lines (specific wavelengths) observed in atomic spectra.

What experiment led to the development of Rutherford’s model?

The gold foil experiment (1909).

How did Rutherford’s model improve upon Thomson’s model?

It introduced the concept of a nucleus and provided a more accurate structure of the atom.

What did Rutherford’s model reveal about the size of the nucleus?

The nucleus is very small compared to the size of the atom.

What did Rutherford’s findings contribute to the development of later atomic models?

They laid the groundwork for the Bohr model, which explained electron stability and atomic spectra.