Question

multiple - choice question
why was rutherfords gold foil experiment able to disprove thomsons model of the atom?
the positively charged alpha particles were supposed to go through the gold foil if thomsons model was correct, but instead some of them bounced back.
the positively charged alpha particles were supposed to bounce straight back when they hit the gold foil if thomsons model was correct, but instead some of them went straight through.

Explanation:

Thomson's model suggested a uniform - distributed positive charge in the atom. According to this, alpha particles should pass through the gold foil easily. But in Rutherford's experiment, some positively - charged alpha particles bounced back, indicating a concentrated positive charge (nucleus) in the atom, which disproved Thomson's model.

Answer:

The positively charged alpha particles were supposed to go through the gold foil if Thomson's model was correct, but instead some of them bounced back.