Rutherford's gold foil experiment revealed that atoms consist mostly of empty space, as most alpha particles passed through the foil without deflection. However, some particles were deflected at large angles, indicating the presence of a small, dense, positively charged nucleus at the center of the atom. This led to the conclusion that electrons orbit around this nucleus, fundamentally changing the understanding of atomic structure. The experiment established the nuclear model of the atom, replacing the earlier plum pudding model.
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