In comparing Thomson's and Rutherford's atomic models, which statement is true?

In comparing Thomson's and Rutherford's atomic models, which statement is true?

• A. Thomson's model features a nucleus while Rutherford's does not
• B. Rutherford's model depicts a positive nucleus with electrons orbiting
• C. Thomson's model shows a dense nucleus with electrons embedded within
• D. Rutherford's model lacks both protons and neutrons

Answer: (B)

Rutherford's atomic model is characterized by the presence of a dense, positively charged nucleus at its center, which is surrounded by electrons that orbit the nucleus much like planets orbit the sun. This model came about as a result of his gold foil experiment, which demonstrated that most of an atom's mass and positive charge is concentrated in a small, central nucleus, and that electrons reside in a surrounding space. The choice that accurately describes this model is the one stating that Rutherford's model depicts a positive nucleus with electrons orbiting around it. This distinguishes it from Thomson's model, which proposed a "plum pudding" structure where positive charge is uniformly distributed throughout a spherical cloud, with electrons embedded within it, rather than orbiting in distinct paths.

Rutherford's atomic model is characterized by the presence of a dense, positively charged nucleus at its center, which is surrounded by electrons that orbit the nucleus much like planets orbit the sun. This model came about as a result of his gold foil experiment, which demonstrated that most of an atom's mass and positive charge is concentrated in a small, central nucleus, and that electrons reside in a surrounding space.

The choice that accurately describes this model is the one stating that Rutherford's model depicts a positive nucleus with electrons orbiting around it. This distinguishes it from Thomson's model, which proposed a "plum pudding" structure where positive charge is uniformly distributed throughout a spherical cloud, with electrons embedded within it, rather than orbiting in distinct paths.