Questions tagged [atoms]
A nucleus made of protons and neutrons surrounded by a cloud of electrons equal in number to the protons.
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Electron movement in 3d Bohr model
During a thought experiment, I observed that I was not able to figure the Bohr model in 3d.
In every picture I saw up to today, the electrons orbit the nucleus on a fixed circle-like path.
But while ...
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2answers
59 views
Is there a link between nuclear radiation and sound? [on hold]
I'd like to understand if it's possible to relate/imagine a link or relationship between nuclear radiation and sound. A simple description would be appreciated since I don't have a deep understanding ...
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1answer
58 views
How can an ion ever capture an electron if an electron requires a precise momentum to match a subsequent orbital?
Suppose an electron approaches a proton with greater energy than the hydrogen ground state. Will the electron scatter? If so, how could an electron ever be captured given it would require exactly the ...
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1answer
63 views
If you were to be crossed by a wire the width of a single atom, would you still be split in half? [duplicate]
Supposing it is solid and wouldn't snap or break. Would it guillotine you or just pass through leaving you unwounded?
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1answer
53 views
Why ferromagnetism requires exactly 2 electrons in the last orbit?
All magnetic materials like iron, cobalt etc.. have 2 electrons at the last orbit. But magnetic field occurs even if a single charge moves. Why exactly 2?
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1answer
49 views
Why don’t electrons fall into the nucleus of an atom? [duplicate]
The nuclei of atoms are composed of protons and neutrons. The proton has a positive charge, and the neutron a neutral charge. Shells of electrons outside the nucleus in the atom orbit around the ...
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0answers
15 views
Does a crystal only belong to a unique crystal system?
I wonder whether a specific crystal (e.g. cubic diamond) only belongs to a unique crystal system (7 in total, see the wikipedia page).
The question is from an observation that the unit cell of the ...
28
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4answers
13k views
If an apple is magnified to the size of the earth, then the atoms in the apple are approximately the size of the original apple
Quoting from the Feynman Lectures on Physics - Vol I:
The atoms are 1 or $2 \times 10^{−8}\ \rm cm$ in radius. Now $10^{−8}\ \rm cm$ is called an angstrom (just as another name), so we say they are ...
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3answers
61 views
Absorption of photons
We know that whenever white light falls on an object, photons of particular wavelength(de broglie's wavelength) gets absorbed by atoms which causes excitation of electron and then electron releases ...
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2answers
70 views
Why are there no transitions between orthohelium and parahelium?
I know the transition rule $\Delta S = 0$. But where does that rule come from?
Is it just very unlikely that an absorbed/emitted $\gamma$ will carry the energy necessary for a spin flip?
Or is there ...
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3answers
48 views
Atom is not neutral? [closed]
The thing that always confused me, was how can atom be electrically neutral, if electrons are closer to observer. Well, okay, I started to read a quantum mechanics book, so to clarify: there is a big ...
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1answer
49 views
Does Thompson's atom model have a solid positive material, or a positive “cloud”?
I understand that the explanation of why Rutherford's experiments disproved Thompson's model is that they expected all the alpha particles to go through the space between atoms with minimum deflection....
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Why is the downward transition of electrons in a three level pumping scheme of laser non radiative?
Laser produces coherant monochromatic waves by stimulated emission of radiation. In the three level pumping scheme of laser the downward transition of electrons from E3 to E2 is spontaneous and from ...
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2answers
94 views
Why atom has the straight discrete energy levels? [duplicate]
Interaction between a nucleus and electrons is in gravity(not considering) and electrostatics. Due to electrostatics nucleus attracts electrons. The force that describes this process is
$$F=k\dfrac{...
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2answers
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Is a boron atom isotropic in the absence of a field? If so, how can one write its electronic state?
Is a boron atom isotropic in the absence of a field? If so, how can one write its electronic state?
An atom in the absence of any field should obey a spherical symmetry (unless there's spontaneous ...
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0answers
18 views
Can any plane belonging to a family of symmetry-equivalent planes represent said family?
These are the guidelines that I found for defining planes and directions of Miller Indices:
Use the [] notation to identify a specific direction (i.e.
[1,0,-1]).
Use the <> notation to identify a ...
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1answer
77 views
If you have a single atom in a box, what state of matter would it be in?
If the walls of the box were made of a completely inert material, what state of matter would the atom be in? Or would it not have one? I realized this is a duplicate of several other questions.
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What is the difference between charge for specific charge in an ion vs not an ion? [duplicate]
The method for working out the specific charge requires charge to be calculated. To calculate a charge when not an ion, if I'm correct you multiply proton number by charge of proton. How do I change ...
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1answer
30 views
Determining excitated state of an electron of an $\rm H$ atom
Suppose we have an electron of $\rm{H}$ atom( suppose it is at 4th shell). But it can't remain in the excited state for a long time. So it can jump to 1st ,2nd or the 3rd orbital. What is the factor ...
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2answers
61 views
Commercially available material with highest density to cost ratio? [closed]
What are the top 5 commercially available materials (not limited to just the elements) with the highest density to cost ratio?
To point to an application, say that my goal was to mass produce a solid ...
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0answers
53 views
Why do electrons abide by Hund's rule?
Is the reason why Hund's rule exists, that when electrons are in different orbitals (such as 2px, 2py, or 2pz), they are most stable (lowest energy)?
If the purpose is stability/lowest energy, ...
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2answers
35 views
For a molecule, does the term 'thermal vibration' mean the same thing as 'molecular vibration'?
When speaking of a molecule, do both terms ('thermal vibration' and 'molecular vibration') describe the same thing, being the one and only periodic motion of the atoms within the molecule?
Or, are ...
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1answer
66 views
Can non-central hamiltonians commute with $\vec{L}^2$?
Central potentials $V(r)$ trivially commute with the operator $\vec{L}^2$ in quantum mechanics because the latter is a function of the angular coordinates $(\theta,\phi)$ only. Non-central potentials, ...
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1answer
70 views
What is the largest wavelength of a photon that can excite an atom in it's groundstate?
Let's assume we have an atom in it's ground state. That atom interacts with a single photon and get's exicited to a higher energy level. How large can the wavelength of the photon be?
I'm looking ...
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3answers
103 views
What is the largest wavelength that can excite an atom?
What is the largest wavelength that can excite an atom? Or is there even a largest wavelength?
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22 views
Why Mercury, Cadmium and Zinc has low melting and boiling points and elements next to them start melting at a bit higher temperatures?
I have been playing with online periodic table and noticed that melting/boiling points are lowest for noble gasses and non metals then it starts for metals on left and creeps from right side of the ...
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1answer
53 views
If an atom is in its ground state, has the atom the lower energy possible and there is its lower temperature?
"In the lowest energy state, the constituents of the atom (the nucleus and the orbiting electrons) are arranged so that the total energy in the system is minimal. This is called the ground state of ...
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1answer
58 views
Should Copper 65 and Copper 63 isotopes have a larger density than a copper 29 atom?
I was looking at the first page of a paper (see https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.1735598#Metrics-content for details) and I ran across something odd. According to the paper, Copper isotopes 63 ...
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1answer
72 views
How do scientists experimentally (this means not theoretically) determine that an atom is not bonded with any other atom?
What I do not understand is how scientists can tell whether or not an atom is bonded to another atom or all by itself. If someone can help me understand this, please do.
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2answers
47 views
Why can't we influence neutral atoms with electric fields if they have charged constituents?
I mean, I know that it's because they're neutral and therefore have a charge of zero, but since atoms have positively charged nuclei and negatively charged electrons, why can't we directly influence ...
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1answer
117 views
How is hydrogen able to emit a light spectrum with only one electron?
When light is shined through hydrogen gas, three colors of light appear. The issue I have with this is that hydrogen has one electron, meaning somehow the electron has to be emitting all three of ...
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2answers
74 views
If $2p$ is circular, why is $2p_x$ not circular and what does $x$ mean?
I was reading about atomic orbitals. From Bohr's model, electron orbitals are considered circular. But as I saw the sub-orbitals like $2p_x$, $3d_{x^2-y^2}$ I noticed something strange. These sub-...
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0answers
113 views
Why don't atoms constantly emit light? [duplicate]
We know that accelerating charged particles emit electromagnetic radiation. We also know that electrons around nucleus have an angular momentum which means that electrons are revolving around the ...
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2answers
51 views
If I would let something mix in the blender and let time go to infinity, will all molecules be separated eventually?
Just question out of curiosity. If I would let something mix in the blender and let time go to infinity, will all molecules be separated eventually, i.e. if I open up the blender it will be gas? Or ...
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2answers
66 views
Does Earth emit Gravitational waves?
We know about bohrs model and his vagaue postulate challenging Rutherford for discrete orbits and not emitting electromagnetic waves during this.
Extending this idea to our solar system, does earth ...
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4answers
91 views
How can moving electrons participate in electrostatic interaction?
People say that there is an electrostatic force between electrons and atomic nuclei. However, electrostatic force applies to static charges, i.e. charges at rest.
Question: How can electrostatic ...
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1answer
22 views
Is the Hartree-Fock approximation getting better and better for higher atoms?
As the atomic number $Z$ increases, is the Hartree-Fock approximation getting better and better, or worse and worse?
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Absorbing only a fraction of photon energy
Atoms have energy levels for its electrons. When there is a match between those and light photon energy, an electronic transition ocurrs.
Question
Why atoms can't absorb just part of a photon ...
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5answers
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Is Avogadro's law applicable for atoms or just for molecules?
I notice that online definitions of this experimental law always say, molecules or atoms.
From the Wikipedia article on Avogadro's Law:
$${\frac {V_{1}}{n_{1}}}={\frac {V_{2}}{n_{2}}}$$ The ...
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How can I know the volume occupied by one element in a compound?
I struggle to find how to estimate the volume occupied by one atom in a compound. As an example let's take $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$, since that's the material on which I work the most. The crystal ...
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0answers
76 views
Why the electrons do not fall into the nucleus of an atom? [duplicate]
If the mass of the nucleus of an atom is where most of the atom's mass is concentrated, then the nucleus should distort (or curve) the time-space of the atom creating therefore a huge gravitational ...
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2answers
77 views
Is velocity of the electron quantized in Bohr's model?
I know that angular momentum and energy of the electron is quantized in the model. When we wrote down the equations and get the velocity equation, if I am not mistaken, we find the velocity to be ...
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1answer
40 views
Distance between atoms and photon wavelength
Does the distance between an atom emitting a photon and an atom interacting with that emitted photon set a upper bound on what that photon's wavelength could be?
For example, two atoms are a ...
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1answer
44 views
Atoms and Quantum Mechanics [duplicate]
Classically, an electron can be in any orbit around the nucleus of an atom. Then what determines the typical atomic size? When we talk about atomic size it can be anything from some finite value to ...
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2answers
102 views
Atom excitation: what changes, amplitude or frequency?
When an atom is excited by a photon and there is an electron transition from ground to excited state, from energy level 1 (E1) to energy level 2 (E2), I understand that the energy of the exciting ...
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0answers
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How do gold atoms formed in hypernova (or kilonova) explosions reunite?
It would seem that the force of the explosion, would disperse them over an extremely large area. How do they get reunited to one day be found clustered in flakes and nuggets?
I get that gravity ...
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What is the narrowest possible functioning straw that could be made?
Let's assume that the straw/pipe/tube can be made of any material, but it should be at least 100 times as long as the inside is wide.
How narrow could the inside of the straw be made before it is no ...
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56 views
How can you make the atoms of a solid object turn into a gas without heat?
I’m doing some research and I’m not sure if his is physically possible without going through a liquid form.(Such as steel) If it isn’t possible please tell me so I don’t continue to waste my time.
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52 views
Can electrons, nucleons be transparent?
As, we can see right through the transparent materials which are composed of atoms which are further composed of electrons and nucleons, does this mean that atoms of transparent things are transparent....
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589 views
Why water molecules move faster when heated?
In his first lecture about the nature of Matter and Atoms, Professor Feynman claims that the higher the temperature of the steam gets, the quicker the movement of Water molecules will be. I don't see ...
