Based on the article "Will the real atomic model please stand up?,” describe one major change that occurred in the development of the modern atomic model.

Answer 1

One major change in the development of the modern atomic model was the transition from the plum pudding model proposed by J.J. Thomson, which depicted the atom as a uniform sphere of positive charge with embedded electrons, to Ernest Rutherford's nuclear model. Rutherford's experiments, particularly the gold foil experiment, demonstrated that atoms have a small, dense nucleus containing most of their mass and positive charge, surrounded by a cloud of electrons. This shift marked a significant advancement in the understanding of atomic structure, leading to a more accurate representation of the atom as primarily empty space with a centralized nucleus, a key element in the development of the modern atomic model.