Rutherford’s Alpha Scattering Experiment
Rutherford conducted an experiment by bombarding a thin sheet of gold with α-particles
and then studied the trajectory of these particles after their interaction with the gold foil.
Rutherford, in his experiment, directed high energy streams of α-particles from a
radioactive source at a thin sheet (100 nm thickness) of gold. In order to study the
deflection caused to the α-particles, he placed a fluorescent zinc sulphide screen
around the thin gold foil.
Observations of Rutherford’s Alpha Scattering Experiment
The observations made by Rutherford led him to conclude that:
1. A major fraction of the α-particles bombarded towards the gold sheet passed
through the sheet without any deflection, and hence most of the space in an
atom is empty.
2. Some of the α-particles were deflected by the gold sheet by very small angles,
and hence the positive charge in an atom is not uniformly distributed. The
positive charge in an atom is concentrated in a very small volume.
3. Very few of the α-particles were deflected back, that is only a few α-particles had
nearly 180o angle of deflection. So the volume occupied by the positively
charged particles in an atom is very small as compared to the total volume
of an atom.
Rutherford Atomic Model
Based on the above observations and conclusions, Rutherford proposed the atomic
structure of elements. According to the Rutherford atomic model:
1. The positive charge and most of the mass of an atom is concentrated in an
extremely small volume. He called this region of the atom as a nucleus.
2. Rutherford’s model proposed that the negatively charged electrons surround the
nucleus of an atom. He also claimed that the electrons surrounding the nucleus
revolve around it with very high speed in circular paths. He named these circular
paths as orbits.
3. Electrons being negatively charged and nucleus being a densely concentrated
mass of positively charged particles are held together by a strong electrostatic
force of attraction.
Limitations of Rutherford Atomic Model
Although the Rutherford atomic model was based on experimental observations, it failed
to explain certain things.
Rutherford proposed that the electrons revolve around the nucleus in fixed paths
called orbits. According to Maxwell, accelerated charged particles emit
electromagnetic radiations and hence an electron revolving around the nucleus
should emit electromagnetic radiation. This radiation would carry energy from the
motion of the electron which would come at the cost of shrinking of orbits.
Ultimately the electrons would collapse in the nucleus. Calculations have shown
that as per the Rutherford model, an electron would collapse into the nucleus in
less than 10-8 seconds. So the Rutherford model was not in accordance with
Maxwell’s theory and could not explain the stability of an atom.
One of the drawbacks of the Rutherford model was also that he did not say
anything about the arrangement of electrons in an atom which made his
theory incomplete.
Introduction to the Bohr Model
Bohr theory modified the atomic structure model by explaining that electrons move in
fixed orbitals (shells) and not anywhere in between and he also explained that each
orbit (shell) has a fixed energy. Rutherford explained the nucleus of an atom and Bohr
modified that model into electrons and their energy levels.
Bohr’s model consists of a small nucleus (positively charged) surrounded by negative
electrons moving around the nucleus in orbits. Bohr found that an electron located away
from the nucleus has more energy, and the electron which is closer to nucleus has less
energy
Postulates of Bohr’s Model of an Atom
In an atom, electrons (negatively charged) revolve around the positively charged nucleus in a
definite circular path called orbits or shells.
Each orbit or shell has a fixed energy and these circular orbits are known as orbital shells.
The energy levels are represented by an integer (n=1, 2, 3…) known as the quantum
number. This range of quantum number starts from nucleus side with n=1 having the lowest
energy level. The orbits n=1, 2, 3, 4… are assigned as K, L, M, N…. shells and when an
electron attains the lowest energy level, it is said to be in the ground state.
The electrons in an atom move from a lower energy level to a higher energy level by gaining
the required energy and an electron moves from a higher energy level to lower energy level
by losing energy.
Limitations of Bohr’s Model of an Atom
Bohr’s model of an atom failed to explain the Zeeman Effect (effect of magnetic field on the
spectra of atoms).
It also failed to explain the Stark effect (effect of electric field on the spectra of atoms).
It violates the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle .
It could not explain the spectra obtained from larger atoms.
