Question

Why did Rutherford select a gold foil in his $\alpha$-particle scattering experiment?

Answer 1

Rutherford's experiment:

1. Rutherford needed a metal sheet that could be as thin as feasible for the scattering experiment.
2. Gold is the most malleable metal on the planet.
3. It is simple to make very thin sheets out of it.
4. Thus, Rutherford chose gold foil for his alpha-ray scattering experiment.