Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Rutherford’s gold foil experiment revealed the nucleus and showed atoms are mostly empty space, an essential turning point in atomic structure. Rutherford aimed a ray of alpha particles at a thin gold foil and discovered that the atom is mostly empty space with a dense, positively-charged nucleus. Learn about his experiment & how drastically it changed our understanding of the structure of an atom.
Related Units:
If you're studying early atomic theory, watch the full playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMszGN5XY0QXNP_t-9Z-B8C2
If you want a strong foundation for studying chemistry, this playlist is your friend: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMssGHFrR4Ee7_-8cFBvBkgN
If you're studying for the MCAT: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMuJZI5IVWO8X0syBANn-YqY
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0:00 Rutherford, Geiger, Marsden
0:14 Experimental Setup
1:09 Scale of the Alpha Particle
1:28 Competing Atomic Models
2:32 Results & Interpretations
4:01 Rutherford's Planetary Model of the Atom
Citations:
Paula Yurkanis Bruice, "Organic Chemistry" 8th ed
openstax.org/details/books/organic-chemistry
openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e
Images:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_scattering_experiments#/media/File:Ernest_Rutherford2.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Hans_geiger.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ernest_Marsden_1921.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_15-inch_Mk_I_naval_gun#/media/File:WW2_Singapore_15inch_shell.jpg
pixabay.com/photos/solar-system-sun-mercury-venus-439046
Periodic Table used with permission from sciencenotes.org/printable-periodic-table
Rutherford’s gold foil experiment revealed the nucleus and showed atoms are mostly empty space, an essential turning point in atomic structure. Rutherford aimed a ray of alpha particles at a thin gold foil and discovered that the atom is mostly empty space with a dense, positively-charged nucleus. Learn about his experiment & how drastically it changed our understanding of the structure of an atom.
Related Units:
If you're studying early atomic theory, watch the full playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMszGN5XY0QXNP_t-9Z-B8C2
If you want a strong foundation for studying chemistry, this playlist is your friend: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMssGHFrR4Ee7_-8cFBvBkgN
If you're studying for the MCAT: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvUW25kBaMMuJZI5IVWO8X0syBANn-YqY
🧪Support free education & more through Patreon! patreon.com/c/ChemistryinaNutshell
🔬As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Start your shopping here: amzn.to/3IXuAcS
0:00 Rutherford, Geiger, Marsden
0:14 Experimental Setup
1:09 Scale of the Alpha Particle
1:28 Competing Atomic Models
2:32 Results & Interpretations
4:01 Rutherford's Planetary Model of the Atom
Citations:
Paula Yurkanis Bruice, "Organic Chemistry" 8th ed
openstax.org/details/books/organic-chemistry
openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e
Images:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherford_scattering_experiments#/media/File:Ernest_Rutherford2.jpg
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Hans_geiger.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ernest_Marsden_1921.jpg
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BL_15-inch_Mk_I_naval_gun#/media/File:WW2_Singapore_15inch_shell.jpg
pixabay.com/photos/solar-system-sun-mercury-venus-439046
Periodic Table used with permission from sciencenotes.org/printable-periodic-table
