The discussion clarifies that a solitary proton, resulting from the removal of an electron from a hydrogen atom, does not possess energy levels and cannot be classified as an atom (H+). The energy levels of a hydrogen atom arise from the interaction between the proton and the electron, which creates discrete quantized bound states. While physicists do not consider protons as atoms in particle collisions, chemists recognize H+ as a cation with similar characteristics to other singly-ionized atoms. The energy levels are fundamentally linked to the electrostatic interaction between the proton and electron, analyzed through quantum mechanics.
PREREQUISITESStudents of physics, chemists, and anyone interested in atomic theory and the behavior of subatomic particles.
No. It is the system proton+electron that posesses discrete quantized bound states.brianhurren said:if you take a hydrogen atom and strip off the electron so that you are left with a proton. does the proton have energy levels around it?
It depends in what regards. From the point of view of physics, the answer is most probably no. I don't think the people at CERN think they are colliding atoms when they are colliding protons. But for chemists, H+ has many of the same characteristics of other singly-ionized atoms, and is to be treated as a cation when considering chemical reaction.brianhurren said:can a solitary proton still be regarded as an atom (H+)