Removing all electrons from an atom results in a bare nucleus, which retains its fundamental properties but alters its behavior significantly. The spectrum of the atom changes, as electrons are crucial for determining energy levels and spectral lines. Particle accelerators, such as those at GSI, routinely work with bare nuclei like U92+, demonstrating that while the nucleus remains stable, the absence of electrons affects interactions and measurements. Notably, it is not necessary to remove electrons for nuclear fission or fusion, as practical methods often involve heating matter to create plasma.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, nuclear engineers, and students of atomic and particle physics will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the effects of electron removal on atomic properties and nuclear interactions.
You don't need to assume. This is done routine in particle accelerators. For instance, at https://www.gsi.de/en/work/research/appamml/atomic_physics/research/experimental_facilities/hitrap.htm they can work with bare nuclei up to U92+.entrance said:Let's assume that we could steal all electrons of an atom. What would happen?
It depends on what you mean by "properties." For instance, the electrons play a major role in the spectrum of an atom. Removing a single electron completely changes an atom's spectrum.entrance said:How would the atom change its properties? Could we measure different values?
Electrons do not participate in the strong interaction.entrance said:For example the strong force inside a nucleus: If we could measure the strong force inside and outside the nucleus, could we notice a change, if we steal all electrons of an atom?
It is a different object. The nucleus behaves the same (apart from a few exotic cases involving beta decays*). The electrons are present in one case, and not present in the other case, so everything involving electrons is different obviously. Spectroscopy of electron energy levels cannot be done without electrons, for example.entrance said:What are the known differences in properties or behaviour between an atom WITH its atoms and the same atom WITHOUT its atoms?
Mark text and click "reply", or use the "reply" or "quote" buttons at the bottom right of a post, or manually use [quote]bla[/quote].entrance said:(How can i make quotes here?)
See:entrance said:DrClaude has already mentioned this "spectrum". What does this mean? And are there some further changes?
No. Uranium in nuclear reactors has its electrons, for example.entrance said:Do i have to remove all electrons, if i want to split a nucleus?
You don't have to remove them for fusion either. Heating the matter until it is a plasma and loses electrons is the most practical approach, but it is not the only one, and the reason the electrons are not around has nothing to do with fusion.entrance said:Or do i have to remove them, if i want to achieve a fusion of 2 or more nuclei?
If you were to remove the electrons, then matter wouldn't hold together. You can get isolated bare nuclei, but certainly cannot make a material with them.entrance said:Maybe the last question in this topic. If it isn't necessary to remove the electrons in a nuclear reactor, then it is also not necessary to remove them in A-Bombs. Is this correct?