Question

what did the rutherford gold foil experiment show about the atom? choose all that applies

a most of atom is empty space
b neutrons are neutral
c nucleus is positively charged
d electrons outside of electron

Explanation:

• In Rutherford's gold - foil experiment, most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil, which implies that most of the atom is empty space.
• Some alpha particles were deflected at large angles, which suggests that there is a positively charged, dense nucleus at the center of the atom (since like charges repel, and the positive alpha particles were repelled by the positive nucleus).
• The experiment did not directly show that neutrons are neutral (neutrons were discovered later by Chadwick).
• Electrons are outside the nucleus (but the experiment mainly focused on the nucleus and the empty space, not specifically on the location of electrons in the sense of this option's wording. However, the overall model from the experiment led to the understanding that electrons are outside the nucleus).

Answer:

a. most of atom is empty space, c. Nucleus is positively charged, d. electrons outside of electron (assuming it means electrons are outside the nucleus)