Question

Explain how the results of Ernest Rutherford’s gold–foil experiment showed that the atom is mostly empty space.

Answer 1

In simple terms...

The rutherford experiement was when a scientist used a very thing piece of gold foil (only a few atoms thick - gold is made up of large atoms) and fired alpha particles (helium nuclei - 2 protons and 2 neutrons) at it to see what happened.

Most of the alpha particles passed straight through, proving that atoms are mainly empty space. Yet 1 in 8000 (or some big number like that..) was reflected (probably not the right word), proving that there is a dense mass in the centre of the atom. Many other particles were deflected proving that that dense mass - the nucleus - must be positively charged, and so repelled the positively charged alpha particles.

Sorry, not the best explanation, but easier to read that the first one! Hope that helps :)