Who made the gold foil experiment?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the individual who conducted the gold foil experiment, which is a significant experiment in the field of atomic physics that led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus.
Answer
Ernest Rutherford (assisted by Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden)
The gold foil experiment was conducted by Ernest Rutherford with the assistance of Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden.
Answer for screen readers
The gold foil experiment was conducted by Ernest Rutherford with the assistance of Hans Geiger and Ernest Marsden.
More Information
The gold foil experiment led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus, fundamentally altering the atomic model and establishing that atoms consist of a dense, positively charged nucleus surrounded by electrons.
Tips
A common mistake is attributing the entire gold foil experiment solely to Rutherford, without acknowledging the contributions of Geiger and Marsden.
Sources
- The Gold Foil Experiment In 1911 by Rutherford - chem.libretexts.org
- The Gold Foil Experiment (Ernest Rutherford) - chemed.chem.purdue.edu
