Question from Zoom Review

[Shannon Moore 2L]

I was not able to catch prof's zoom review on Wednesday. Could someone explain why the answer to this question is e? Thanks!

Which of the following experiments most directly supports
de Broglie's hypothesis of the wave nature of matter?
a. Alpha-particle scattering by a metal foil
b. The photoelectric effect
c. Black-body radiation
d. The emission spectrum of the hydrogen atom
e. Electron diffraction by a crystal

[Zaid Bustami 1B]

Hey Shannon!
De Broglie's hypothesis tells us that everything with mass (matter) has a dual particle-like and wave-like property. Based on that, look at each answer choice:
a. This experiment revealed how atoms are largely made of empty space between the nucleus and the orbiting electrons. It tells us that alpha particles (an alpha particle is a helium nucleus) can pass through gold foil sometimes because they pass through that empty space and are deflected at other times because they hit the nucleus. Even without knowing the experiment the scenario only displays the particle-like nature of things (particle scattering is not a property of a wave)
b. We know that the photoelectric effect is the idea that electrons can be ejected from metal atoms using photons. Since this experiment describes the particle-like property of light (and not the wave-like property of matter), this option doesn't work.
c. Black body radiation is just the idea of an object that reflects all wavelengths of light, so it doesn't really connect to the wave-like property of matter.
d. The emission spectrum of hydrogen is the specific wavelengths of light that are emitted from electrons as they move from excited states to a lower energy state. This tells us that electrons can emit photons to release energy, so again not really related to the wave-like property of matter.
e. Electron diffraction is the concept that electrons beamed through a crystal lattice will lead to a diffraction pattern much like light passed through a crystal. Since diffraction is the bending of waves around obstacles and openings, we know that since electrons (which are particles with mass) can produce diffraction patterns they have wave-like properties. The de Broglie equation shows this too, since it relates wavelength to an expression involving the mass of an object.