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Why doesn't the electron eventually land on the proton in a hydrogen atom since there is electrostatic force attracting the two together?
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Great question. Inquiries like this led to quantum mechanics a hundred years ago. The easy way to grasp this is to look at the electron as a wave, not a particle. The electron has only whole wavelengths in stable orbits. So normally the electron can't just lose energy to spiral into the nucleus. Remember that there is no mechanism by which the electron can slowly lose energy, and only the electromagnetic force holds it in orbit. The orbits are often not circular. Another question in this regard is "What is the difference between a positive hydrogen ion (which lost an electron), and a bare proton?" There isn't one.
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoQuantum mechanics.
If the laws of physics consisted of only classical electromagnetic theory and Newton's laws of mechanics, then electrons going around a nucleus would gradually lose electromagnetic energy and spiral into the center and collide with the nucleus.
That doesn't happen and the theory of describes the law of nature that predicts a stable orbit is quantum mechanics. Quantum mechanics is correct and classical electromagnetic theory and Newtons laws have limited validity.
Quantum mechanics predicts discrete and stable electronic states as the ground state (lowest energy state) of electrons around atoms.
Answer2:
The electrons centrifugal force balances the electrical attraction (centripetal) force and thus does not fall into the nucleus.
The electron energy is the sum of the electrical scalar/potential energy -vh/r AND the vector energy cmV=cP. The vector energy is not recognized and is the so-called "Dark Energy" in Cosmology. The electron has matter and motion thus momentum, mV=P, this also gives the electron vector energy, cP. Physics has yet to recognize that Energy is a Quaternion quantity.
The Energy of the electron is W = -vh/r + cP = [-vh/r, cP]
and the Force is the first derivative of energy. Quaternion Physics also needs a Quaternion Derivative X =d/dr + DEL = [d/dr, DEL].
Force F is the first derivative of the energy W
F = XW = [d/dr,DEL][-vh/r,cP] = [vh/r2 -cDEL.P, cdP/dr -DEL vh/r + cDELxP]
F = [vp/r - cp/r cos(PR), -cp/r 1P + vp/r 1R + cp/r sin(PR) 1RxP]
The electron does not fall into the nucleus because the scalar force is zero. This is the Continuity condition: 0= vp/r - cp/r cos(PR) and
this gives vp/r=cp/r cos(PR) and v/c= cos(PR).
This is the case of the centripetal force vp/r is balanced by the centrifugal force cDEL.P, Divergence of the Vector energy, cP. The Divergence is the outward force and balances the centripetal , inward force. The cos(PR) is the angle needed to balance the two forces. At different velocities or orbits, the angle is different. The cos(PR) =v/c is the redshift of the electron and is the same cause of the redshift in Cosmology.
The speed of the electron is v=Z Alpha c, where Z is the Atomic Number and Alpha is the Fine Structure Constant.
The redshift cos(PR)= v/c= ZAlpha c/c=Z alpha and the limit is Z Alpha =1 so the Atomic Number is limited to Z<1/Alpha = 138.
Newton's Laws are correct when extended to Quaternion quantities. Newton's 3 laws are correct and anticipated Quaternions, specifically Newton's vector force anticipated the vector energy cP.
F=dP/dt = cdP/cdt = cdP/dr = dcP/dr the derivative of the vector energy cP !
The Quaternion nature of Physics is the revolutionary insight as to why the electron does not fall into the nucleus and why the earth does not fall into the sun!
this is absolute stupid,,,,the electron theriy is just a theriy, its not true....GE's tunelling microcope can see electrons, they are very small balls..
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe proton and electron do in fact attract each other because of electrostatic forces associated with their opposite charges.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoProton and electron can react and and the products are a neutron and a neutrino.
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How many valence electrons in H2 atom?
H2 is not an atom, it is a diatomic molecule. Each hydrogen atom has 1 valence electron. When two hydrogen atoms covalently bond to form an H2 molecule, there are two valence electrons being shared by the two atoms.
You have 1 electron 1 proton and 1 neutron. What are you?
You are an atom of heavy hydrogen, or deuterium. Most hydrogen has one proton and one electron, which form a neutral atom. But once in a while, a neutron will stick to the proton, and then the atom, which is still hydrogen (it has just the one proton) will be about twice as massive as "regular" or "common" hydrogen. It is another isotope of hydrogen called heavy hydrogen or deuterium.
How do you use the word electron in a sentence?
The electron has a negative charge and orbits the positively charged atomic nucleus. Many compounds are made possible by electron sharing between elements.
How many valence electrons does HBr have?
Hydrogen has 1 valence electron. Bromine has 7 valence electrons. When hydrogen and bromine react, the bromine atom 'steals' the hydrogen atom's only electron. The hydrogen atom then has no electrons and the bromine atom has 8 valence electrons. The two atoms are now ions because their number of protons does not equal their number of electrons. The bromine atom is now a bromide anion and the hydrogen atom is now a hydrogen cation (a proton). The two ions remain together, ionicly bonded and together are called hydrogen bromide.
How do you explain the diagram that shows 4 energy levels of hydrogen - 1 at the bottom 4 at the top - the values are n4-0.85eV n3-1.51eV n2-3.4eV n1-13.6eV?
The diagram shows the ionization energies of hydrogen. The ionization energy for a ground-state electron in hydrogen is 13.6eV. Let's jump. An electron orbits an atom of hydrogen in as low an energy level as possible. That's the ground state of hydrogen. To tear that electron away, it takes some amount of energy. In this case, it takes 13.6eV to strip off that electron. But what if the electron is in the next higher allowable energy level because the gas it hot? In that case, it takes less energy to tear that electron away because you've got a "head start" owing to the fact that the electron is in a higher orbital than the ground state. And what if it's in the next higher allowable energy level? Or the next? Less and less energy is required to strip off the electron as it moves to higher energy levels. These are the ionization energies of hydrogen. These energy levels are specific to hydrogen. Each other element will have a different set if ionization energies associated with it. And with atoms with many electrons and complex electron structures, the problem can quickly become very complex.
In a hydrogen atom an electron revolves around a proton Which of these two exerts a greater electrostatic force on the other?
The forces in both directions are equal.
What forms a molecule chemically?
A molecule is formed chemically by bonding 2 or more atoms. There are hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds, ionic bonds, and the Van der Waals force. A hydrogen bond is attracting atoms with an electromagnetic force this is not necessarily a real bond just attraction. Covalent bonds are when 2 or more atoms share electron(s). Ionic bonds are when and atom loses a electron (cation), and one that has gained an electron (anions) create an electrostatic attraction (e.g sodium+ choline- gives us NaCL, table salt). The Van der Waals force is a temporary electrostatic force, the definition gets longer for all of the types of bonds just to not confuse you. Hopes it helps
What attraction holds the electron in orbit around the nucleus of the hydrogen atom?
Magnetic. The nucleus of a hydrogen atom is a proton, which has a positive charge. The electron has a negative charge Opposite charges attract so the negative electron is attracted to the positive nucleus.
What do hydrogen bonds and electrostatic bonds have in common?
Hydrogen bonds are a form of electrostatic bonds involving hydrogen. Electrostatic bonds result from + an - charges interacting. Hydrogen bonds result from being partially positive and being attracted to another partially negative or more electronegative atom.. Etc etc
Hydrogen sometimes is ________________ an electron and sometimes it has an _____________ electron.?
dd
What are the Electron Configuration of hydrogen?
Hydrogen electron configuration will be 1s1.
What is the difference between hydrogen and an electron?
Hydrogen is an element, the electron is a subatomic particle.
What has one electron?
Hydrogen
What are the orbits of hydrogen?
Hydrogen only has one electron orbit, as it only has one electron.
Who is lighter electron or hydrogen atom?
electron
What is electronic configuration for hydride ion?
Because hydrogen is the only atom where bonds are made in the 1s shell, hydrogen can make bonds as a hydride ion or a proton. It can also participate in covalent bonds, and form a weak electrostatic bond that is important in biochemical reactions, called a hydrogen bond. The hydride ion can also join with electropositive atoms in an electron-deficient bond called the three center bond.1s^2
What particle has the lowest mass number?
An electron. As the mass of an electron is 00000000000000000000000000000091 kg
