In the gold foil experiment,

• A. most alpha particles passed through with little or no deflection.
• B. a few alpha particles were deflected, some through large angles.
• C. Rutherford proved that the plum-pudding model was incorrect.
• D. alpha particles were directed at a thin sheet of gold foil.
• E. All of the above statements are true.

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the gold foil experiment: It was conducted by Ernest Rutherford to investigate the structure of the atom.
2. Recognize the significance of the experiment: Alpha particles were directed at a thin sheet of gold foil to observe their behavior upon collision.
3. Analyze the observations: Most alpha particles passed through the foil with little or no deflection, indicating that atoms are mostly empty space.
4. Consider the deflection of some alpha particles: A few were deflected at large angles, suggesting the presence of a dense, positively charged nucleus within the atom.
5. Conclude the implications: These observations disproved the plum-pudding model, which posited that positive charge was spread throughout the atom, and led to the nuclear model of the atom.