The discussion centers on the energy levels of a hydrogen atom and the nature of a solitary proton (H+). Participants explore whether a proton can be considered an atom and the conditions under which energy levels arise in the hydrogen atom system.
Participants do not reach a consensus on whether a solitary proton can be considered an atom, and there are differing views on the nature of energy levels in relation to the proton-electron system.
Participants express uncertainty regarding the definitions of "atom" and the conditions under which energy levels are defined, highlighting the dependence on the context of physics versus chemistry.
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+)