View source for Physics:Quantum atoms/atom

{{Short description|Central part of an atom containing protons and neutrons}}

{{Quantum matter backlink|Atoms}}

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An atom is a Book II topic in the Quantum Collection. An atom is a bound quantum system consisting of a compact nucleus surrounded by electrons occupying quantized states. Atomic structure is governed by the Coulomb interaction, the Pauli exclusion principle, spin, angular momentum, and the allowed solutions of the quantum wave equation. The discreteness of atomic energy levels explains spectral lines, chemical periodicity, ionization, and many precision tests of quantum theory. In the Quantum Collection, atoms provide the bridge between elementary particles, nuclear matter, molecular bonding, spectroscopy, and controllable quantum systems.
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== Description ==
The nucleus is bound together by the strong nuclear force and is much smaller than the overall size of the atom. Electrons occupy regions outside the nucleus in quantum states.

== Properties ==

* nuclear charge
* mass number
* binding energy

=See also=
{{#invoke:PhysicsQC|tocHeadingAndList|Physics:Quantum basics/See also}}

=References=
{{reflist|3}}

{{Author|Harold Foppele}}
{{Sourceattribution|Physics:Quantum atoms/nucleus|1}}