A miniaturized exploratory drone fires a stream of high-velocity, positively charged micro-pellets toward an unknown atomic target to chart its interior structure. Telemetry shows that more than 99% of the pellets pass directly through the target unimpeded, while approximately one in ten thousand experiences an extreme deflection or rebounds almost straight backward. According to Rutherford's atomic model, which deduction accurately explains these transmission readings?

A) The positive charge and mass are uniformly distributed throughout a continuous, low-density sphere.

B) Negative charges are tightly packed into a rigid outer perimeter that repels incoming positive probes.

C) Nearly all of the atom's mass and positive charge are concentrated in an extremely tiny, dense nucleus surrounded by vast empty space.

D) The target is completely solid throughout, but high-velocity micro-pellets slip between flexible molecular gaps.

Rutherford's model Original Scenario-Based Download PDF

Chemistry · Atomic Structure · Chemistry · Models of the Atom

1 Chemistry practice questions on Rutherford's model. Questions built around original scenarios.

Atomic Structure · Chemistry

Choose a topic and keep learning.