![So what’s an atom?
a part at the center (the nucleus)
parts going around the center (orbitals, which “orbit”)
It is not wildly incorrect to think of this as being like the solar system, with the sun at the center, and the planets orbiting. So: there is a huge solar system that we are part of, riding on the Earth. And: if you shrink down to see the atoms that make up elements, they are tiny solar systems.
[BS ALERT: It is incorrect to think of atoms as exactly like like solar systems, for reasons we might go into later. But in general, the metaphor is a good one.]
It’s the nucleus that gives an atom its identity. We’ll talk about that next.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l00t16OA2D1qbtjkwo1_r1_500.png)
So what’s an atom?
- a part at the center (the nucleus)
- parts going around the center (orbitals, which “orbit”)
It is not wildly incorrect to think of this as being like the solar system, with the sun at the center, and the planets orbiting. So: there is a huge solar system that we are part of, riding on the Earth. And: if you shrink down to see the atoms that make up elements, they are tiny solar systems.
[BS ALERT: It is incorrect to think of atoms as exactly like like solar systems, for reasons we might go into later. But in general, the metaphor is a good one.]
It’s the nucleus that gives an atom its identity. We’ll talk about that next.
