What are the limitations of the Thomson model of the atom?
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Solution
Thomson Model of an Atom J.J. Thomson (1898) tried to explain the structure of an atom. He proposed that an atom consists of a sphere of positive electricity in which electrons are embedded like a plum in pudding or seeds evenly distributed in red spongy mass in the case of a watermelon. The radius of the sphere is of the order 10-8 cm.
Merits :
Thomson’s model could explain the electrical neutrality of an atom.
Thomson’s model could explain why only negatively charged particles are emitted when a metal is heated as he considered the positive charge to be immovable by assuming it to be spread over the total volume of the atom.
He could explain the formation of ions and ionic compounds.
Demerits: This model could not satisfy the facts proposed by Rutherford through his alpha particle scattering experiment and hence was discarded.
