What causes attraction of electrons to nucleus?

[ander]

What causes the attraction between electrons and protons in the nucleus? I've always assumed the attraction and worked from there, but I was curious if anybody knows what the root cause of this attraction is.

 

[DaveC426913]

What causes the attraction between electrons and protons in the nucleus? I've always assumed the attraction and worked from there, but I was curious if anybody knows what the root cause of this attraction is.

You mean beyond charge? Protons are positively charged, electrons negatively charged?

Is your question more aptly: what causes the charges in subatomic particles?

 

[Acut]

The protons have positive charge, which attract the negatively charged electrons. Essentially, it's an electrical force.

 

[ander]

You mean beyond charge? Protons are positively charged, electrons negatively charged?

Is your question more aptly: what causes the charges in subatomic particles?

Yes, that's my question. What causes the charges?

 

[I like Serena]

Yes, that's my question. What causes the charges?

No one knows.
We just observed the attraction and thought up the concept of charge and electrical force to model it.
It turned out to be a good model.

 

[ander]

No one knows.
We just observed the attraction and thought up the concept of charge and electrical force to model it.
It turned out to be a good model.

Disappointing, maybe, but thanks. I guess that's why chemistry isn't mathematics.

 

[Borek]

Actually this is more physics than chemistry.

 

[ander]

Actually this is more physics than chemistry.

Right, physics. I tend to associate atomic theory with chemistry since I learned it in chemistry class, whereas in physics I learned basic mechanics. But thanks for pointing that out.