Which answer choice best describes why the results of Ernest Rutherford's gold foil experiment led him to propose the concept of
a nucleus? A.) The positively charged alpha particles were deflected more often than expected, which indicated that the gold atoms' negative charges were located at the center of each atom. B.) The positively charged alpha particles were deflected less often than expected, which indicated that the gold atoms' negative charges were not evenly distributed throughout each atom. C.) The positively charged alpha particles were deflected less often than expected, which indicated that the gold atoms' positive charges were located around the outside of each atom. D.) The positively charged alpha particles were deflected more often than expected, which indicated that the gold atoms' positive charges were not evenly distributed throughout each atom.
D.) The positively charged alpha particles were deflected more often than expected, which indicated that the gold atoms' positive charges were not evenly distributed throughout each atom.
<h3><u>Explanation</u>;</h3>
<em><u>During the experiment, alpha particles bombarded a thin piece of gold foil. The alpha particles were expected to pass easily through the gold foil. Every now and then, however, an alpha particle bounced back- an unexpected result. Rutherford concluded that these particles were striking a tiny region of positive charge.</u></em>
The discovery of the nucleus was a result of Rutherford's observation that a small percentage of the positively charged particles bombarding the metal's surface were deflected back towards the source.
He concluded that each atom contained a very small, very dense, positively charged center which he called the nucleus.
The positively charged alpha particles were deflected more often than expected, which indicated that the gold atoms' positive charges were not evenly distributed throughout each atom.
