Why the electron cannot exist inside the nucleus?

Answer 1

Now this is an interesting question!

Electrons have negative charge, and the nucleus has a positive charge, so you might think that the electrons would end up in the nucleus due to electrostatic attraction.
In the simple Bohr model of the atom, the electrons orbit the nucleus in CIRCULAR paths. The reason that the electrons do not get closer to the nucleus even though they are feeling an attractive force towards it, is that the force acts perpendicular to the direction of the electron's velocity at any time. Thus, the force has the effect of only changing the direction of the electron, and cannot do work on it to pull it closer.

Now, here's some information which you might consider to be more deep:
This simple model of the electrons moving around in circular orbits is a complete over-simplification. Sure, it's good for visualising an atom, but it applies a classical model to an object so small it can only truly be modelled quantum mechanically.

The main problem with the Bohr model is that it is predicted that electrons which are accelerating (and moving in a circle counts as accelerating because there is a changing direction) should be releasing synchotron radiation (electromagnetic radiation) and thus be losing energy and spiral into the nucleus.
So this might make you now think that the electrons ARE in the nucleus - there's no way that the electrons can maintain stable orbits classically.
But the key point here is that the atom is not a classical entity.
We can apply quantum mechanics to an atom. Here, we treat the electrons not as point-like particles, but as waves. We make use of a "wave-function" which describes the electrons. It is possible to show that there are certain, stable orbits, where the electron is able to maintain its energy. Thus, the electrons will not spiral into the nucleus.

Even more deep:
The entire notion of electrons travelling in circular orbits is wrong.
Since the electron is truly governed by a probability function that describes the electron's position, momentum etc, and, given the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, it might be obvious to you now that the electron spontaneously pops in and out of existence at various points around the atom.

Does this mean the electron can appear inside the nucleus?
No. Even though the electron appears at random around the atom, it can be shown that the probability of the atom appearing at a certain point becomes less as that point approaches the nucleus. In fact, the probability of the electron appearing inside the nucleus is 0. The electrons are MOST LIKELY to be confined to the classical Bohr radius, but not completely confined.


I hope this fully explains some of the reasons why you might think the electron could be in the nucleus, and gives good explanations why it is not.

Answer 2

First, Wilvin, as correct physics contributor, could understand extra constructive. He has no understanding of Heisenberg's concept and, through inference, of Quantum Mechanics. next, take h = 6.sixty 3 × 10^-34 m2 kg / s From ?x?p > h get ?p > (6.623 × 10^-34 m2 kg / s)/10^-14 m =6.sixty 2 x 10^-20 kg m/s The power linked with this momentum is ?E = p^2/2m, the position m is the mass of the electron, 9.11 × 10^-31 kg. So, ?E = [(6.sixty 2 x 10^-20)^2]/ 2 x 9.11 x 10^-31 Joules = 2.40-one x 10^-9 J Now 1eV = a million.6 x 10^-19 J, so as that ?E in eV is two.4 x 10^-9 /a million.6 x 10^-19 eV = 15 x 10^9 eV In different words the ability spectrum of electrons popping out of a nucleus ( ? decay) could make higher to 15 GeV (15,000 MeV) The observed spectrum contained in the MeV determination. besides, the nuclear binding power/nucleon is about 8 MeV/ nucleon once you flow previous Fe. it really is over 3 orders of value decrease than the calculated power for an electron, if it existed as a loose particle contained in the nucleus, like a proton or a neutron. therefore, electrons can not exist as loose debris interior a nucleus. ..and this seems after Wilvin.

Answer 3

simple answer: electrons are revolving around the nucleus they have centripetal force which pushes them away from the nucleus, this force is balanced by the attraction between the nucleus and the electron, (electron is -ve while proton is +ve, and opposite charges attract), this is just like the earth and the moon, or earth and the sun.

Complex answer: Electrons don't exist as matter as you see it, there are two ways to look at an electron 1) its is a wave or collection of waves, second is that it is a tinny bit of matter, with a certain level of energy, the level energy in an electron decides in which shell, or orbit it stays, More the energy further the electron from the nucleus, and electrons can exist in side the nucleus, but in other forms, beta radiating is omitted from the nucleus of an atom, and it is nothing but, fast moving electron.

Answer 4

Because the nucleus is not moving.
Movement of electrons cause chemical reactions.
If the electrons exist inside the nucleus, nothing would be able to exist.

Answer 5

Well, strictly speaking they do.

Electrons occupy an orbital around the nucleus that represents the probability of them being at a particular point. The term orbital is a hangover from the Bohr model, but they are in no sense at all orbting round the nucleus.

The shape of the orbital comes from a solution of the Schroedinger equation. For most the probability density falls to zero in the nucleus, but for s orbitals it does not.

Answer 6

according to bohrs orbital theory an electron revolves around the nucleus in a fixed orbit, contrary to it if a hypothesis related to the presence of electron resides in a nucleus it can possibly cross all theory regarding nucleus. firstly we should know that electrons are lighter particle which have fixed energy level in their orbit if the electron are removed from their respective orbit against electrostatic force it will lead to collison and particles will be accelerated at enormous speed causing destability of particles.

Answer 7

the electron & nucleus both r negatively charged hence from the theory that like charges repel each other the elect cannot be inside a nucleus

Answer 8

ELECTRON NOT REMAIN IN NUCLEUS BECAUSE THERE IS LARGE + CHARGE INSIDE NUCLEUS .AND NUCLEUS SMALL. SO NO ELECTRON REVOLVE AROUND NUCLEUS TO NEUTRAL _- CHARGE

Answer 9

i remember asking my lecturer that

he said:

cuz the lowest energy the electron is next...

and when the electron in nucleus its zero quantum that empty space is zero quantum cuz there no material

Answer 10

becoz it is revolving with the critical velocity,,,,,,,,, around the nucleusss,,,,,,,,,,
and if electron exists in nucleus,,,,,,,,,,, the element will not exist at all,,,,,,,,,,

but electron can jump lower orbit to higher orbit,,,,,,, and it will emits energy is form of packets which is called photons,,,,,,,