we are 99% empty space...and we are held together with atomic and subatomic bonds...why aren't we see-through?

Answer 1

Just consider the magnitude of each of the void space!!
The void space itself is of the order of some picometers or even smaller.
You require an electron microscope or an even powerful device to RESOLVE THE VIEW
Try to learn more about the HUMAN EYE!

Resoultion of an object is very important to view clearly.
Our eyes can barely resolve to some micrometers.

Besides the visible light has wavelenght greater than 940nm which is much geater than atomic void...thus visible light is useless in atomic observations.
Thats why we aren't we see-through!!

Answer 2

Photons reflect off electron orbitals, which are essentially continuous because quantum uncertainty 'smears' the electron out until it can only be considered to occupy the entire orbital at the same time. So, while the orbitals are hollow, they appear to be solid.

Another reason is simply that the voids inside the orbitals are so much smaller than the wavelength of light that light cannot pass through. There is the same effect in operation in a microwave door: the perforations in the view plate are small enough for visible light to pass but not for microwaves, to whom the door appears to be solid metal.

Answer 3

the coolest proportion of empty area relies upon on which atom you're speaking approximately. an difficulty-free Hydrogen atom would have so lots extra empty area than the denser and extra complicated atoms of, say, Uranium. yet ninety 9 % is a sturdy “ordinary guesstimate” of empty area. “So we would desire to be made up of ninety 9% empty area?” In a nutshell, sure. The “form” of an atom (and for this reason molecules, and for this reason us) are made up of via the quick flow and electro-magnetic fields led to via the debris of the atom, giving the “phantasm” that the atom/molecule is larger than it somewhat is. So yup – what you spot is barely a million% of what there is! something is unquestionably empty!

Answer 4

The energy we see with does not penetrate the matter we are made of, so empty or not we see solids, which is more useful to us anyway since seeing through objects might cause us to walk into them with bruising effect.

Answer 5

You seem pretty transparent to me - I don't understand why you can't see that. However, I think you need to understand how light travels through objects and how the eye works - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye

Good Luck!!!

Answer 6

density / light reflection

Answer 7

Have you not heard of the x-ray.