Exam-style question
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What was a key reason for replacing the plum pudding model of the atom?.
- A.It could not explain the existence of a nucleus.
- B.It accurately described electron orbits.
- C.It accounted for the mass of the atom.
- D.It was supported by experimental evidence.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It could not explain the existence of a nucleus.
Explanation
Why this works
The plum pudding model suggested that electrons were distributed throughout a positively charged 'soup'. However, Rutherford's scattering experiments showed that atoms have a small, dense nucleus, which the plum pudding model could not account for.
This evidence led to the development of the nuclear model of the atom.
Common mistake
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