Question

Why did Rutherford selected a gold foil for his scattering experiment?

Give its electron distribution diagram.

Answer 1

Rutherford selected a gold foil for his scattering experiment:

• Because he wanted the thinnest metal sheet possible.
• And among the most metal available Gold(Au) is the most malleable.
• This means the metal which can form the thinnest sheet is Gold.
• Therefore, Gold is used.

Electron distribution diagram of Gold(Au):

• $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^{6}4{\mathrm{s}}^{2}4{\mathrm{p}}^{6}5{\mathrm{s}}^{2}4{\mathrm{d}}^{10}5{\mathrm{p}}^{6}6{\mathrm{s}}^{1}4{\mathrm{f}}^{14}5{\mathrm{d}}^{10}$