Question

Rutherford’s alpha-particle scattering experiment was responsible for the discovery of

• A. Atomic Nucleus
• B. Electron
• C. Proton
• D. Neutron

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Rutherford's alpha-particle scattering experiment was a groundbreaking experiment in the early 20th century that contributed significantly to our understanding of atomic structure. Here's the detailed explanation of the experiment and its implications:

1. In the experiment, alpha particles were directed at a very thin gold foil. Most of the alpha particles passed through the gold foil with little or no deflection, while a small number were deflected at large angles, and a very few even bounced back.
2. This deflection pattern indicated that the positive charge in atoms is not spread out uniformly, as was previously thought. Instead, the result suggested that the positive charge, along with most of the atom's mass, is concentrated in a small, dense region, which was later named the "nucleus."

Why the other options are incorrect:

• The electron was discovered earlier by J.J. Thomson in 1897 through his cathode ray experiments.
• The proton was discovered after the nucleus, as an individual constituent of the nucleus. Its existence as a separate particle was postulated by Rutherford in 1917.
• The neutron was discovered later by James Chadwick in 1932, providing a further understanding of atomic structure.

Therefore, the correct answer to the given question is Atomic Nucleus.

The following diagram illustrates the scattering experiment, showing how alpha particles deflect off the dense nucleus, offering a concise visual representation of Rutherford's conclusions.