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In the experiment, Rutherford found the nucleus using gold foil.
because he used a thin sheet of gold foil.
Because he used a gold foil (the only metal that can be hammered into a 1 atom thick foil without tearing) in an attempt to scatter alpha particles.
The unexpected result that instead of all of the alpha particles scattering through small forward angles, a few bounced almost directly back to the source. This made the Thompson "plum pudding" model of the atom unworkable and suggested that each atom had a tiny "infinitely hard" kernel somewhere inside it. Rutherford named this kernel the nucleus.
Virgil Connelly
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago1. It is used because gold was known to be a very inert element.
2. The use of gold had nothing to do with its reactivity, any more than the experiment had any connection to chemistry. Rutherford wanted to fire alpha particles through the foil. Alpha particles are not very penetrating; a sheet of notepaper will stop most of them. To achieve a reasonable percentage of penetration the foil needed to be really thin.
Gold is highly malleable; gold leaf can be made in thicknesses around 100 nm or 4 micro-inch. It was the best material for the job.
Gold foil was used in Rutherford's experiment because it is malleable and can be hammered into extremely thin sheets, allowing for the creation of very thin foils. This enabled Rutherford to shoot alpha particles through the foil to observe their behavior upon impact, leading to the discovery of the atomic nucleus.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIt is because gold is soft and most malleable metal and can be made into very thin sheets.
Rutherford experiment consisted of bombardment of Alpha particles at the sheet of any substance.So, he wanted a sheet as thin as possible and gold foil was the most suitable choice for it. :):):) hope this helps
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAll elements are used in Rutherford's atomic model. Gold was used in the key experiment that Rutherford and Soddy used to develop the model. Gold was used for those experiments because it is relatively easy to flatten into a very thin sheet.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agodue to its large atomic number
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoi dont know why!
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Why is Rutherford's experiment called the gold foil experiment?
Rutherford's experiment is called the gold foil experiment because a thin sheet of gold foil was used as the target in the experiment. This gold foil was bombarded with alpha particles to study the scattering of the particles and led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus.
What material did Rutherford use in his famous experiment?
Rutherford's experimenters were Hans Geiger, and Ernest Marsden, both of whom went on to have worthwhile science careers. The metal foil used in the Rutherford experiments was gold, for this foil amy be made extremely thin by careful beating, whilst still being imperforate.
How do we use Rutherford's gold foil experiment today?
Rutherford's gold foil experiment laid the foundation for our understanding of the atomic structure. Today, it is used in various fields of science and technology, such as nuclear physics, material science, and particle accelerators, to study the behavior of atoms and subatomic particles. The experiment's results have also influenced the development of modern particle detectors and nuclear imaging techniques.
Who used gold foil to help understand the structure of an atom?
Rutherfordium (#104), named for Ernest Rutherford.
If Rutherford made bombarded aluminum foil with alpha particles instead of gold foil what observations would he have used?
If Rutherford had bombarded aluminum foil with alpha particles instead of gold foil, he would have observed that most of the alpha particles would pass through the foil with minimal deflection since aluminum is a lighter element compared to gold. Some of the alpha particles may undergo slight scattering or deflection due to interactions with the atomic nuclei in the aluminum foil, but there would be no significant backscattering as seen in the gold foil experiment.
Who used the gold foil experiment?
Ernest Rutherford conducted the gold foil experiment in 1909 at the University of Manchester. He aimed to investigate the structure of the atom and discovered that atoms have a small, positively charged nucleus at their center.
Who used polonium and gold foil in his famous experiment?
Rutherford supervised the experiment in his famous beta particle scatter experiment with gold foil, so he is given credit.
What experiment convinced Ernest Rutherford thet atom has a small positively charged nucleus?
The gold foil experiment convinced Ernest Rutherford that the atom has a small positively charged nucleus. In this experiment, alpha particles were shot at a thin gold foil. The fact that some of the alpha particles were deflected and even bounced back led Rutherford to conclude that atoms have a small, dense, positively charged nucleus.
Who used metallic foil as a target for alpha bombardment?
Ernest Rutherford used metallic foil, specifically gold foil, as a target for alpha particle bombardment in his famous gold foil experiment. This experiment led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus and the development of the nuclear model of the atom.
Why is Rutherford's experiment called the gold foil experiment?
Rutherford's experiment is called the gold foil experiment because a thin sheet of gold foil was used as the target in the experiment. This gold foil was bombarded with alpha particles to study the scattering of the particles and led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus.
What would be the result of Rutherford gold foil experiment if electrons were used in place of alpha partilces?
The electrons would have been attracted to the atomic nuclei of the gold foil.
What type of metal did Rutherford use in his experiment?
Ernest Rutherford used gold foil in his famous experiment to investigate the structure of the atom.
The kind of particle Rutherford used to shoot through gold foil?
Rutherford shot high-energy alpha particles (two protons and two neutrons, or a helium nucleus) at the gold foil. A small fraction of these alpha particles bounced back, and that is how Rutherford discovered the nucleus.
Who was the schientist who used the gold foill?
Ernest Rutherford is the scientist who conducted the famous gold foil experiment in 1909, which led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus.
Why was a vacuum used for Rutherford's gold foil experiment?
A vacuum was used in Rutherford's gold foil experiment to reduce interference from air molecules that could scatter the alpha particles, leading to inaccurate results. The vacuum helped create a controlled environment for the experiment, allowing the alpha particles to pass through the gold foil without deflection by air particles.
Who used the gold foil experiment to determine the atom is mostly empty space?
Ernest Rutherford used the gold foil experiment to determine that the atom is mostly empty space. He directed alpha particles at a thin sheet of gold foil and found that while most particles passed through, some were deflected, leading him to conclude that atoms have a small, dense nucleus surrounded by mostly empty space.
What material did Rutherford use in his famous experiment?
Rutherford's experimenters were Hans Geiger, and Ernest Marsden, both of whom went on to have worthwhile science careers. The metal foil used in the Rutherford experiments was gold, for this foil amy be made extremely thin by careful beating, whilst still being imperforate.
