How do electrons maintain a stable distance from the nucleus?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of how electrons maintain a stable distance from the nucleus of an atom. It touches on concepts from quantum physics, atomic structure, and the nature of electron behavior, including the implications of the uncertainty principle and probability distributions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that electrons maintain distance from the nucleus due to centrifugal force related to the weak or strong force, questioning the stability of their position over time.
  • Another participant clarifies that electrons do not orbit the nucleus like planets and that they occupy shells, indicating a misunderstanding of classical analogies.
  • A later reply emphasizes that electrons have a probability of being at various distances from the nucleus, including the possibility of being inside the nucleus, which relates to phenomena like electron capture.
  • Another participant introduces the uncertainty principle, explaining that as an electron's average position approaches the nucleus, its momentum increases, affecting its spatial distribution.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of electron behavior and stability. There is no consensus on how electrons maintain their distance from the nucleus, with multiple competing explanations presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to classical analogies that are considered outdated, as well as concepts from quantum mechanics that may not be fully understood by all participants. The implications of the uncertainty principle and probability distributions are also highlighted but not resolved.

Mukilab
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Please correct me if I am wrong in any of this
1) Electrons are able to go around the nucleus of an atom due to the centrifugal force resulting from the weak/strong force (one of them)
2) Quantum physics says that particles can be in 2 places at the same time.
3) Therefore can't an electron be in the same place over a period of time (although it is probably unlikely) therefore no longer having any centrifugal force
4) The lack of centrifugal force will make the electron spiral into the centre of the atom.

Please could anyone help me out here?
 
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Electrons do not orbit the nucleus as a planet orbits the sun. This analogy was known to be wrong 100 years ago, in fact some of the same reasoning was applied.

Electrons are said to occupy shells. I think you will benefit if you look at Wikipedia or some other basic sources to gain some additional insight.

All quantum particles can be said to have a probability of being in more than one place.
 
DrChinese said:
Electrons do not orbit the nucleus as a planet orbits the sun. This analogy was known to be wrong 100 years ago, in fact some of the same reasoning was applied.

Electrons are said to occupy shells. I think you will benefit if you look at Wikipedia or some other basic sources to gain some additional insight.

All quantum particles can be said to have a probability of being in more than one place.

How do electrons remain a certain distance from the nucleus?
 
Mukilab said:
How do electrons remain a certain distance from the nucleus?

Because of the uncertainty principle. As an electron's average position gets closer and closer to the nucleus, the area that it occupies becomes smaller and smaller and the average momentum increases. It is a property of the wave function.
 
Mukilab said:
How do electrons remain a certain distance from the nucleus?

They don't. In general, an atomic electron has a certain probability of being at any distance from the nucleus, albeit extremely small for large distances. It even has some probability of being inside the nucleus, which leads to the nuclear decay process called electron capture.
 

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