Question

Who performed gold foil experiment to find out the structure of an atom?

• A. Bohr
• B. Rutherford
• C. J.J. Thomson
• D. Newton

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Rutherford

Explanation for the correct answer

Option B

• Rutherford performed the gold foil experiment to find out the structure of an atom.
• Based upon the observation from the gold foil experiment, he proposed the structure of an atom.
• He proposed that most of the space of an atom is empty.
• Atom consists of a small, dense, positively charged region known as the nucleus.
• Size of the nucleus is very small as compared to the size of an atom.
• electrons are revolving around the nucleus in a circular path.
• Positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electrons are held together by the electrostatic force of attraction.

Explanation for the incorrect answers

Option A

• Niels Bohr also proposed a model of an atom.
• He stated that electrons are revolving around the nucleus in a definite circular path known as orbit.
• Each orbit or shell is associated with a definite amount of energy.
• Electrons will lose or gain energy if they jump from one orbit to another.
• So, the energy of an electron remaining in a particular orbit is always constant.

Option C

• From the cathode-ray experiment, J.J. Thomson discovered that every atom consists of negatively charged subatomic particles known as electrons.

Option D

• Gravity is discovered by Issac Newton.

Conclusion: Hence option B is correct, Rutherford performed the gold foil experiment to find out the structure of an atom.