Which feature did Bohr's model of the atom include that Rutherford's model did not?

• A. Electrons occupy specific, quantized energy levels or orbits around the nucleus.
• B. Electrons are embedded within a positively charged sphere.
• C. The nucleus contains both protons and neutrons.
• D. Atoms are indivisible and indestructible.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall Rutherford's atomic model: it proposed a small, dense, positively charged nucleus with electrons moving around it, but did not specify how electrons are arranged or their energy states.
2. Understand Bohr's contribution: he introduced the idea that electrons move in specific circular orbits or energy levels around the nucleus, each with a fixed energy, rather than any arbitrary path.
3. Recognize that Bohr's model quantized the electron's energy, meaning electrons can only exist in certain allowed energy states and not in between, which explained atomic emission spectra.
4. Compare the options given: Bohr's model uniquely includes the concept of electrons occupying quantized energy levels, which Rutherford's model lacks.
5. Conclude that the key feature Bohr added was the quantization of electron orbits, distinguishing his model from Rutherford's.