Do Now:

1) What did J.J. Thomson discover?

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Ernest Rutherford (1906): expanded on Thomsons idea and changed Thomsons theory of the Plum Pudding
Model by designing the Gold Foil Experiment.
Rutherford was using dense, positively charged particles (called alpha particles) as bullets to fire at a very
thin piece of gold foil. He expected the particles to barge their way straight through the gold atoms
unimpeded by the diffuse positive charge spread throughout the atom that Thomsons model described.
However, he got a big surprise.

In 1911, Ernest Rutherford interpreted these results and suggested a new model for the atom. He said that
Thomsons model could not be right. The positive charge must be concentrated in a tiny volume at the center
of the atom, otherwise the heavy alpha particles fired at the foil could never be repelled back towards their
source. On this model, the electrons orbited around the dense nucleus (center of the atom). He also said that
the atom is mostly empty space.

The tiny central region of the atom

was called the nucleus, which is
Latin for little nut. Furthermore,
Rutherford suggested that the (-)
electrons travel around the (+)
nucleus.
What are the subatomic particles?

PARTS OF THE ATOM

Atomic Part

Weight

Charge

Where Found

Yes No Positive Negative Neutral Inside Nucleus

Proton
Electron
Neutron

Outside Nucleus