How Can We Be so Cocksure That Electrons Orbit The Nucleus?

Answer 1

"Orbit" is actually a misleading term. The Bohr model for the atom depicted electrons "orbiting" the nucleus in much the same way as the planets orbit the sun. The shells are actually probability spaces where one is most likely to find an electron.

In fact, when an atom is "pumped" the electrons "tunnel" through exclusion zones to the next shell. When the electron drops back to the lower energy state, it emits a quantum of energy. This is the basis for flourescent lights and lasers.

Part of how we know these levels exist, and are discrete is by the frequency of the emitted photon. For a given state transistion, the frequency (and therefore the energy, and therefore the actual state transistion) is always the same.

Answer 2

infact we we r not. electrons orbiting the nucleus is the old model of an atom. The new model sugestd that electrons are actually present in space around the nucleus. we have no sure idea were an electron is at a particular time, due to hiensenberg uncertainity principle, but we define a region where there's a maximum probability of the electron existing. we call these high probability regions as orbitals.

Answer 3

We don't as a matter of fact. If you read actual science, you'd understand that an electron's "orbit" is kind of a smeared out probability. It's quite possible that there is no actual object moving in a circle or figure 8 or whatever around the nucleus.
http://courses.chem.psu.edu/chem38/mol-gallery/orbitals/orbitals.html

" You may ask what happened to the nice and simple "planetary" model of the atom proposed by Bohr. Wasn't electron supposed to move in an orbit around the nucleus? Well, that model was not entirely correct. The atomic particles do not behave as macroscopic objects... Here we have to deal with probabilities of electron being in certain places."

Answer 4

I don't believe we are 100% sure, BUT it seems to fit into the scheme of things that has evolved through scientific study though the years. That is, an atomic model has evolved, and the electron orbiting the nucleus fits the model and makes sense. Someone may come along and disprove this electron-nucleus concept, but they will have to develop a new model to explain matter and how we know things act and interact.

Answer 5

We aren't really sure that the electrons orbit, we know based on test where alpha particles were fired into an atom that they are mostly empty space except for where the positive and negative charges caused attraction or repultion. Think of it more like an electron cloud not a direct orbit.

Answer 6

We're not. All the theory taught to hundreds of millions has been exactly that: Theory.

We're "pretty confident" but I often wonder how often an electron stays "in orbit" around the same nucleus versus flying along constantly bouncing around off of various nuclei while all the other electrons do the same and simply "averaging" the "rated" number of electrons per atom or molecule.

Answer 7

Electrons do not orbit a nucleus, they buzz around at different distances from the nucleus.

Answer 8

That's just a conveniant mental image. Electrons don't actually 'orbit' the nucleus, they're more like a 'cloud' of wave functions (or probabilities or overlapping eigenvalues) that surrounds the nucleus.

Doug

Answer 9

scientists will never admit to being wrong until they come up with a better tale to tell

Answer 10

and I take it you think the earth is flat too....