During an imaginative subatomic voyage simulation, an automated explorer fires a stream of high-speed, positively charged alpha particles toward an ultrathin barrier of gold atoms. While more than ninety-nine percent of the particles pass straight through unimpeded, a minute fraction is deflected at wide angles and roughly one in twenty thousand rebounds almost directly backward. Based on Ernest Rutherford's foundational interpretation of these results, what must the mission crew conclude regarding atomic structure?

A) The atom is a continuous, solid sphere of positive charge with electrons embedded uniformly throughout its interior.

B) The atom consists predominantly of empty space, with its positive charge and nearly all of its mass concentrated in a tiny, dense central nucleus.

C) The atom contains electrons confined strictly to fixed concentric rings with discrete, quantized energy values.

D) The atom is completely indivisible and composed of neutral, impenetrable mass that deflects charges purely through mechanical collisions.

Rutherford's model Original Scenario-Based Practice

Chemistry · Atomic Structure · Chemistry · Models of the Atom

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

Layout:

Choose how questions appear in the preview and test.

Preview the questions below, then start to answer and see your results.

Answers and step-by-step solutions appear after you finish the test.

Atomic Structure · Chemistry

Choose a topic and keep learning.