compressing atoms..?

Question

is there a limit to the extent whereby 2 atoms can be compressed? i mean regardless of the energy it takes. or is there some limit whereby at some level of energy, some changes happen between 2 atoms? e.g. nuclear fusion?

at a certain separation Do, the force of attraction = force of repulsion between 2 atoms. forcing them tgt will increase the potential energy of the atoms as follows in Hooke's Law. I just want to know whether is it infinity or there is a limit.

Answer 1

There is a limit in the sense that if you compress atoms to the point electrons are forced to merge with the nucleus, you have essentially turned your atoms into a clump of neutrons. That is what happens to neutron star. Any additional compression after that is compressing neutron, not atoms. But you can compress neutrons until they collapse a form a black hole, then the internal gravity of the clump of former atoms takes over and compress to singularity.

As to the second part of your question, the existance of neutron stars shows that the force of repulsion can be overcome, so that it is not infinite. Once you break through a certain limit, other forces start acting, like the strong nuclear force (with a very short range), and even gravity, and those would be a lot stronger at close range than any repulsive force.
Compressing two atoms together to the point of merging them happens all the time in the sun (and in thermonuclear bombs) and hopefully, in eventual thermo nuclear power reactors.

Answer 2

The atoms of a 2 solar mass star are compressed to a sphere of 10 km.the space that maintained the star has been displaced resulting in a neutron star.
If the remaining space is displaced {by gravity] the neutron star can not be sustained as a neutron star and will revert to a quantum state and erupt into a super gamma ray burst!

Answer 3

i take a laxative to com;press molecules. a natural compression enhancement is the eating of okra. an arican "vegatable" brought to the us by slavers. not well know in euroope but used plent y the clever chinese.