Limitations of Rutherford Atomic Model

If we compare, the modern-day model of the atom with Rutherford’s model of the atom, we can see the following drawbacks other than the above-mentioned ones as well.

Lack of Explanation for Chemical Properties

As already discussed, we know Rutherford’s model of the atom focuses on the structure of an atom but doesn’t provide any further explanation of chemical properties or interactions between different elements. It also doesn’t account for the formation of chemical bonds and the arrangement of electrons in different orbits.

Neglect of Electron Spin

In 1925, George Uhlenbeck and Samuel Goudsmit introduced the concept of electron spin, which is absent from Rutherford’s model of the atom. They discovered that electron spin is the intrinsic property of electrons and has a significant influence on the behavior and properties of atoms.

Simplified Nature of the Nucleus

In Rutherford’s model, the nucleus is simplified as a single positively charged particle, which is the source of all atomic mass. But as we know, this is an oversimplification of the nucleus as this neglects the existence of neutrons that are discovered later. Today, we know that neutrons and Protons contribute to the atomic mass and stability of the nuclei.

Lack of Subatomic Particles

At the time of Rutherford’s model, electrons, protons, and neutrons are considered building blocks of the universe. But the discovery of subatomic particles such as muons, mesons, quarks, and other elementary particles disprove that. We can consider this as also a drawback of the Atomic model of Rutherford.

Check: Size of The Nucleus – Rutherford Gold Foil Experiment

In Rutherford’s Model of the Atom, Rutherford performed an experiment based on that experiment some of the hypotheses are given. At that time those hypotheses are considered revolutionary as there was an experiment to back that hypothesis. But as the experiment performed by Rutherford is rudimentary in nature, this model of the atom can be seen with a lot of major drawbacks, all of which we will be learning about under the heading Drawback 

In this article, other than the Drawbacks of Rutherford’s Atomic Model we will learn first learn about Rutherford’s Atomic Model, and also we will compare this model to the modern-day model of the atom. So, let’s start our learning of “Drawbacks of Rutherford’s Atomic Model” in this article.