Basic Atomic Structure: A Look Inside the Atom
Tyler DeWitt・7 minutes read
Atoms are the basic units of matter, made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons, with electrons moving erratically rather than in circular orbits around the nucleus. Despite their small size, atoms have vast empty spaces within them, with electrons being miles away if the nucleus were grape-sized.
Insights
- Atoms are the basic units of matter, consisting of a nucleus made up of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons moving unpredictably, challenging the traditional notion of electrons orbiting in fixed paths.
- Despite being minute, atoms contain vast empty spaces within them, with electrons situated far from the nucleus, highlighting the relative emptiness within an atom despite its seemingly solid structure.
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What are atoms?
Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter, represented by tiny colored circles in illustrations, with table salt, water, and oxygen exemplified as solids, liquids, and gases respectively.
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Summary
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"Tiny Atoms: Building Blocks of Matter"
- Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all matter, represented by tiny colored circles in illustrations, with table salt, water, and oxygen exemplified as solids, liquids, and gases respectively.
- Atoms are incredibly minuscule, with the width of a paper requiring a million atoms lined up to match its thickness, showcasing their small scale.
- Atoms consist of a nucleus composed of protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutral), surrounded by electrons (negatively charged) moving rapidly in orbits, with opposite charges attracting to maintain stability.
- Protons and neutrons weigh about 1 atomic mass unit (AMU) each, while electrons are significantly lighter at 0.0005 AMU, with the total AMU of protons and neutrons determining an atom's mass.
- The depiction of atoms with electrons orbiting like circles is inaccurate; electrons move erratically, and if the nucleus were grape-sized, electrons would be miles away, emphasizing the vast empty space within an atom.
