Which of the following is a strength of Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom?

• A. It described the arrangement of electrons in shells around the nucleus.
• B. It explained the existence of a dense, positively charged nucleus at the center of the atom.
• C. It explained the emission spectra of hydrogen atoms.
• D. It accounted for the stability of electrons in fixed energy levels.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the key features of Rutherford's nuclear model of the atom, which was developed after his gold foil experiment.
2. Understand that Rutherford proposed the atom has a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at its center, where most of the atom's mass is concentrated.
3. Recognize that Rutherford's model did not describe the arrangement of electrons in shells or fixed energy levels; this was later explained by Bohr's model.
4. Note that Rutherford's model did not explain the emission spectra of hydrogen atoms, which also required the introduction of quantized energy levels.
5. Therefore, the main strength of Rutherford's model is that it explained the existence of a dense, positively charged nucleus at the center of the atom.