Spontaneous atomic disintegration.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of spontaneous atomic disintegration, specifically in relation to hydrogen atoms. Participants explore the hypothetical scenario of isolating a hydrogen atom and the implications for its stability over time, considering factors such as radiation and subatomic particle interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the definition of spontaneous disintegration of an atom.
  • Another participant describes spontaneous disintegration as the breakdown of a conglomerate of subatomic particles over time.
  • A viewpoint is presented that hydrogen atoms would remain stable for an extremely long duration, provided they are isolated from radiation influences.
  • It is noted that the hydrogen nucleus could theoretically capture a thermal neutron, but this would not apply to an isolated hydrogen atom.
  • Participants mention that there is no experimental evidence supporting the decay of protons or electrons, with a lifetime exceeding 6.6 x 1033 years suggested for hydrogen.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying perspectives on the stability of hydrogen atoms and the conditions under which disintegration might occur. There is no consensus on the possibility of spontaneous disintegration, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion relies on assumptions regarding isolation from radiation and does not resolve the implications of neutron capture in the context of an isolated hydrogen atom.

Hippasos
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Is spontaneous atomic disintegration possible under current knowledge? I mean hypothetically if we could isolate one hydrogen atom in a container how long it would be hydrogen atom?

Thanks!
 
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Hi there,

Just a question to your question. What do you call spontaneous disintegration of an atom?
 
I would call that disintegration of conglomerate of various subatomic particles that would happen spontaneously over time.
 
I believe that in the case hydrogen, it would stay as it is for very long. The atom does not stay in its original form because of the surrounding.

That is being isolated from any type of radiation, of course. Otherwise, the radiation (beta, alpha, gamma) can influence the state of the subatomic particles.

Cheers
 
Hydrogen (meaning proton plus electron) has a lifetime exceeding 6.6 x 1033 years. This is the experimental lower limit. The hydrogen nucleus could capture a thermal neutron and become a deuteron, but the proton won't disintegrate. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_decay
 
Bob S said:
The hydrogen nucleus could capture a thermal neutron...

Since the OP specified an isolated hydrogen atom, we wouldn't consider neutron capture in this case.

There is currently no experimental evidence that the proton or electron would ever decay. As Bob S pointed out, we have a lower limit on the lifetime of these particles and it is well in excess of the current age of the universe.
 

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