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Knowledge of atomic structure is fundamental to understanding the properties of the elements, chemical reactivity, and nuclear reactions - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question 5 - 2022
Question 5
Knowledge of atomic structure is fundamental to understanding the properties of the elements, chemical reactivity, and nuclear reactions. (a) Around 1909 Rutherford... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Knowledge of atomic structure is fundamental to understanding the properties of the elements, chemical reactivity, and nuclear reactions - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question 5 - 2022
Step 1
Based on the model of the atom that Thomson had proposed after his discovery of the electron in 1898, which of these three observations was the most unexpected?
Answer
The most unexpected observation was that a very tiny number of alpha particles rebounded back along their original paths. According to Thomson's model, which posited that the atom was a positive 'soup' with negative electrons embedded randomly, it was not anticipated that any particles would bounce back in this manner, indicating the presence of a dense and positively charged nucleus.
Step 2
What conclusion did Rutherford reach about the structure of the atom from all of the observations in the gold foil experiments taken together?
Answer
Rutherford concluded that the atom has a small, dense nucleus where most of its mass is concentrated, while the rest of the atom is mostly empty space. This contradicted Thomson's model and led to the current understanding that atoms have a nucleus surrounded by electrons.
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