Which of the following best describes the plum pudding model of the atom?

• A. Electrons are located in fixed energy levels around the nucleus.
• B. Electrons are embedded in a positively charged 'pudding', with the positive charge spread throughout the atom.
• C. Atoms consist of indivisible particles called protons and neutrons.
• D. Electrons orbit a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at the center of the atom.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the plum pudding model is an early atomic model proposed by J.J. Thomson after the discovery of the electron.
2. Recall that in the plum pudding model, the atom is envisioned as a positively charged sphere (the 'pudding') with negatively charged electrons (the 'plums') embedded within it.
3. Note that this model does not include a nucleus or fixed energy levels; instead, the positive charge is spread out evenly throughout the atom.
4. Compare this with later models, such as Rutherford's nuclear model, which introduced a small, dense, positively charged nucleus with electrons orbiting around it.
5. Conclude that the best description of the plum pudding model is: electrons are embedded in a positively charged 'pudding', with the positive charge spread throughout the atom.