Rutherford
Rutherford Model of Atom PAPER
• Ernest Rutherford (1871
-1937)
• Learned physics in J.J.
Thomson’ lab.
• Gold-foil experiment
Animation by Raymond Chang – All rights reserved.
Rutherford ‘Scattering’
• In 1909 Rutherford undertook a series of experiments
• He fired α (alpha) particles at a very thin sample of gold foil
• According to the Thomson model the α particles would only
be slightly deflected
• Rutherford discovered that they were deflected through large angles
and could even be reflected straight back to the source
Lead collimator
Gold foil
α particle
source
θ
Results of foil experiment if plum-pudding
had been correct.
Electrons scattered
throughout positive
charges
+ -
+
- +
+ -
+
-
- +
+ -
-
Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 57
What He Expected
• The alpha particles to pass through without
changing direction (very much)
• Because -
• The positive charges were spread out evenly.
Alone they were not enough to stop the alpha
particles
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What he expected…
California WEB
What he expected…
Because he thought the mass was evenly
distributed in the atom.
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-
-
-
-
Because, he thought the
mass was evenly -- --
distributed in the atom
-- --
-- -- --
-- --
-- --
--
-- --
-- -- --
-- --
-- --
--
-- --
--
What he got…
richocheting
alpha particles
What he got…
richocheting
alpha particles
The Predicted Result:
expected
path
expected
marks on screen
Observed Result:
mark on
screen
likely alpha
particle path
Interpreting the
Observed Deflections
. . .
.
beam of . .
. . undeflected
alpha particles
particles . .
. .
. .
. deflected particle
. .
gold foil
Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120
Density and the Atom
• Since most of the particles went through, the
atom was mostly empty.
• Because the alpha rays were deflected so
much, the positive pieces it was striking were
heavy.
• Small volume and big mass = big density
• This small dense positive area is the nucleus
California WEB
Explanation of Alpha-Scattering Results
Alpha particles Nucleus
+
+
-
-
+
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
-
-
+
-
Plum-pudding atom Nuclear atom
Thomson’s model Rutherford’s model
Rutherford’s
Gold-Leaf
Experiment
Conclusions:
Atom is mostly empty space
Nucleus has (+) charge
Electrons float around nucleus
Dorin, Demmin, Gabel, Chemistry The Study of Matter , 3rd Edition, 1990, page 120
Actual Results of Gold-Leaf Experiment
n
+
Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 57
The Rutherford Atom
-
- -
- -
n
+
- -
-
-
-
Zumdahl, Zumdahl, DeCoste, World of Chemistry 2002, page 57
Conclusion (Rutherford’s Atom Model)
As a result of his observations, Rutherford suggested that the atom had a positively
charged centre which contained most of the mass.
He called the heavy
positively charged centre
the nucleus.
A number of electron equal to the number of positive charge in the nucleus orbits round
the nucleus..
The elctrons are in constant motion round the nucleus like the planets round the sun.
Conclusion
As a result of his observations, Rutherford suggested that the atom had a positively
charged centre which contained most of the mass.
He called the heavy
positively charged centre
the nucleus.
He went on to suggest that the nucleus was surrounded by orbiting electrons required
for electrical neutrality.
Conclusion
As a result of his observations, Rutherford suggested that the atom had a positively
charged centre which contained most of the mass.
He called the heavy
positively charged centre
the nucleus.
He went on to suggest that the nucleus was surrounded by orbiting electrons required
for electrical neutrality.
Conclusion
As a result of his observations, Rutherford suggested that the atom had a positively
charged centre which contained most of the mass.
He called the heavy
positively charged centre
the nucleus.
He went on to suggest that the nucleus was surrounded by orbiting electrons required
for electrical neutrality.
Conclusion
As a result of his observations, Rutherford suggested that the atom had a positively
charged centre which contained most of the mass.
He called the heavy
positively charged centre
the nucleus.
He went on to suggest that the nucleus was surrounded by orbiting electrons required
for electrical neutrality.
Modern measurements show that the average nucleus has a radius in the order of
10-15 m. This is 100, 000 times smaller than the radius of a typical atom.
NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY
1908
• In 1908, Ernest Rutherford won the 1908 Chemistry Nobel
Prize for his discovery of the Atomic Nucleus and radioactive
substances.
• He is the winner ever to do his best work after being awarded
the Nobel Prize.
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