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The major shortcoming of the Rutherford atomic model was that it could not explain:
AThe existence of the nucleus
BThe stability of the atom and the discrete (line) spectrum of hydrogen
CThe deflection of alpha particles
DThe neutrality of the atom
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The stability of the atom and the discrete (line) spectrum of hydrogen
An electron moving in a circular orbit is an accelerating charge, which according to classical electromagnetism must continuously radiate energy. Rutherford's model therefore predicted that the electron should spiral into the nucleus within nanoseconds, contradicting the observed stability of atoms. The model also could not explain why hydrogen emits a discrete line spectrum rather than a continuous one.
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