Rutherford 's atomic model marked a significant advancement in atomic theory . It established the nuclear structure of the atom and the existence of protons, paving the way for later models and the modern understanding of the atom's structure. Rutherford 's atomic model became known as the nuclear model . In the nuclear atom, the protons and neutrons, which comprise nearly all of the mass of the atom, are located in the nucleus at the center of the atom. The electrons are distributed around the nucleus and occupy most of the volume of the atom. What was Rutherford 's model of an atom? Rutherford 's model of an atom stated that: There is a positively charged centre in an atom called the nucleus . Nearly all the mass of an atom resides in the nucleus . The electrons (negatively charged particles) revolve around the nucleus in circular paths. Rutherford atomic model Physicist Ernest Rutherford envisioned the atom as a miniature solar system, with electrons orbiting around a massive nucleus, and as mostly empty space, with the nucleus occupying only a very small part of the atom.
