Or it there always some distance of space in between?
2006-08-24 23:46:59 · 9 answers · asked by charming_imogen 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The definition of "touch" is somewhat fuzzy at that scale, as the outer part of an atom is made of a cloud of electrons. Is the sharing of "fog" touching?
In the case of molecules, when two atoms are getting as close as they possibly can to share one or several electrons, we can consider, for all pratical reasons, that they are indeed touching one another.
2006-08-24 23:51:26 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atoms consist of positively charged nucleuses surrounded by negatively charged electrons. As such they exist within a perfect vacuum similar to the planets orbiting the sun. The negative charges of the electrons repel each other keeping them apart within the orbits of a given atom and repelling the electrons of other atoms (although atoms can share electrons when there are empty spaces in their outer orbits - the secret of chemistry).
The inverse square law shows that repulsion of electrons becomes exceedingly great as the distance between them is reduced to near zero. It the atoms are ionized (stripped of their electrons) their positively charged nucleuses repel each other with exceedingly great forces, also per the inverse square law and great pressure and energy as in the center of the sun is required to fuse (join together) hydrogen atoms to produce helium; giving off even more heat energy.
Although atoms (molecules) do not have a defined surface like an orange, they can be nearly incompressible as is water. Seven miles down in the deepest part of the sea (Mariana trench) a cubic inch of water remains nearly a cubic inch. In a solid the atoms (or molecules) may form crystal lattices that are nearly incompressible but do expand or contract with changes in temperature. Hope that helps a little.
2006-08-25 00:51:56 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's always a bit of space between them in a sense. When they're sharing valence shell electrons (to form covalent bonds) they can be pretty tightly 'packed' (especially if they are in some sort of crystaline lattice)
Atoms don't really have a 'hard' or 'strictly defined' surface since the electrons forming their outermost shell are actually 'probability functions'.
I'm sure you have in mind the picture of an atom as being like a billiard ball. It isn't. It's more like a 'dust ball' with a very 'fuzzy' and poorly defined surface.
Doug
2006-08-24 23:55:36 · answer #3 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you mean by touching each other.
Molecules share electrons, from same or different atoms (and also same and different atoms).
They make atoms bump into each other in accelarators.
There is also space within the atoms.
Helium is "lighter" than uranium because, helium has much less protons, and neutrons and electrons than uranium. So there is less space withinin an uranium atom than in a helium atom.
2006-08-25 04:07:34 · answer #4 · answered by Yahoo! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
atoms overlap to form a bond between them
2006-08-26 05:58:06 · answer #5 · answered by indian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they may touch each other or split or be gathered together but that produces a huge amount of energy, here is the nuclear power, but that doesnt happen in ordinary case , we must force thim to that
2006-08-25 00:22:32 · answer #6 · answered by shakal_100 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
atoms are always bouncing off each other.
2006-08-24 23:54:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course! Well, I think so, when they get heated then they will bump into eachother and cause heat, maybe light energy.
2006-08-24 23:50:41 · answer #8 · answered by cool_person 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's why they call it atomic bomb !
2006-08-24 23:50:31 · answer #9 · answered by efez 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋