Which conclusion was developed as a result of the Rutherford gold foil experiment?

• A. Atoms are indivisible and cannot be broken down into smaller particles.
• B. Most of the atom is empty space, with a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at its center.
• C. Protons and neutrons are evenly distributed throughout the atom.
• D. Electrons are arranged in fixed orbits around the nucleus.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the Rutherford gold foil experiment, which involved firing alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil to observe how they scattered.
2. Recall that before Rutherford's experiment, the prevailing atomic model was the 'plum pudding model,' which suggested that positive charge was spread out evenly throughout the atom with electrons embedded within it.
3. Analyze the key observation from the experiment: most alpha particles passed straight through the foil, but a small fraction were deflected at large angles, indicating the presence of a small, dense, positively charged center.
4. From this observation, conclude that most of the atom is empty space, allowing most particles to pass through, and that the positive charge and most of the atom's mass are concentrated in a tiny nucleus at the center.
5. Recognize that this conclusion disproved the idea that atoms are indivisible or that protons and neutrons are evenly distributed, and it laid the foundation for the nuclear model of the atom.