Select the correct answer.

How was Rutherford's gold foil experiment inconsistent with the plum pudding model of the atom?

A: The model could not explain how alpha particles could be deflected at large angles

B: The model could not explain how alpha particles could penetrate the atoms.

C: The model could not explain why the electrons in the atom would be evenly spaced.

D: The model could not explain why alpha particles passed through the nucleus without any deflection.

A. The model could not explain how alpha particles could be deflected at large angles.

Explanation:

The plum pudding model of the atom was proposed by J. J Thomson. He suggested that that an atom is made up of dense particles of electrons surrounded by positive charges.

From the Gold foil experiment carried out by Ernest Rutherford, he noticed that the bulk of the alpha particles targeted at the foil passed through and a little fraction was heavily deflected back.

Rutherford then presented his nuclear model from here. He suggested a massive, dense and tiny nucleus where the protons and neutrons are located. The space outside the mass is dominated by orbiting electrons.