Answer to Question #213304 in Inorganic Chemistry for emon

Question

If plum pudding model of atom would be valid, then producing cathode ray and electricity would be a myth”

Answer 1

• the fact that most alpha particles went straight through the foil is evidence for the atom being mostly empty space
• a small number of alpha particles being deflected at large angles suggested that there is a concentration of positive charge in the atom - like charges repel, so the positive alpha particles were being repelled by positive charges
• the very small number of alpha particles coming straight back suggested that the positive charge and mass are concentrated in a tiny volume in the atom (the nucleus) - the tiny number doing this means the chance of being on that exact collision course was very small, and so the 'target' being aimed at had to be equally