THE ATOM: Part Two. What Is an Atom?

Summary

This script delves into the profound impact of atomic theory on various scientific fields, emphasizing that all matter is composed of atoms. It explores the minuscule scale of atoms, their complex inner structure, and perpetual motion. The script highlights how atoms form molecules, the significance of electron behavior in chemical reactions, and the role of atomic nuclei in nuclear reactions. It also touches on the periodic table's organization, the predictability of chemical bonds, and the versatility of carbon. The script further discusses modern applications in nanotechnology, the quest to understand subatomic particles like quarks and neutrinos, and the potential of nuclear energy for power and medicine. It concludes by reflecting on the cosmic origins of atoms, suggesting that we are all made of stardust.

Takeaways

• 🌐 All material things on Earth, from trees to humans, are composed of atoms.
• 🔬 Atoms are incredibly small; 50 billion atoms of gold could fit in a single drop of seawater, yet it would take 2,000 tons of seawater to extract a visible amount of gold.
• 🔥 Atoms and molecules are in constant motion, with the motion of air molecules on a summer day being three times faster than a bullet.
• ❄️ As temperatures approach absolute zero (-273°C), atomic motion slows, but even then, atoms maintain a slight vibration due to their intricate inner structure.
• ⚙️ Atoms consist of a dense, positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons, with the nucleus being much smaller in comparison to the entire atom.
• 🔄 Chemical changes in the world, from burning wood to thinking thoughts, are due to alterations in the electrons' orbits as they form and break bonds between atoms.
• 🌞 Changes in the electrons' movements within atoms can produce radiation, including visible light and electricity.
• ⚛️ Nuclear changes, from atomic power to radiation therapy, are due to rearrangements within the dense atomic nucleus.
• 📊 The periodic table is a fundamental tool in chemistry, representing all known elements and their atomic structures, with each element having a unique number of protons and a specific arrangement of electrons.
• 🧬 Carbon, with its ability to form various bonds, is central to the creation of complex molecules like DNA, which carries the genetic information necessary for life.

Q & A

What is the significance of atoms in modern science?

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all material things on earth, and understanding them is crucial for various scientific fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine.

How small are atoms and what is an example of their scale?

Atoms are incredibly small; in a single drop of seawater, there are 50 billion atoms of gold. However, it would take 2,000 tons of seawater to extract enough gold to see with the naked eye.

What is the relationship between atoms and heat?

Atoms and molecules are in constant motion, and this motion is what generates heat. The faster the atoms move, the higher the temperature.

What is the structure of an atom as described in the script?

An atom is composed of a dense, positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons, and the electrons orbit the nucleus.

How do the differences in atoms affect their properties?

The differences between one kind of atom and another are due to the number and arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons, which determine the chemical properties and reactivity of the atom.

What is the role of electrons in chemical changes?

Electrons play a key role in chemical changes as they form and break bonds between atoms, leading to various chemical reactions such as burning wood or digesting food.

How do changes in the atom's electrons produce radiation?

Changes in the movement and arrangement of an atom's electrons can result in the emission of radiation, including visible light and electricity.

What is the significance of the atomic nucleus in nuclear changes?

Nuclear changes, such as those in atomic power plants or radiation therapy, are due to rearrangements and interactions within the dense atomic nucleus.

How does the periodic table of elements relate to atomic theory?

The periodic table is a visual representation of atomic theory, organizing elements by their atomic number and properties, which are determined by the number of protons in the nucleus.

What is nanotechnology and how does it relate to atomic theory?

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter at the atomic scale. It relies on atomic theory to understand and control the behavior of atoms and molecules to create new materials and devices.

What are some practical applications of atomic research mentioned in the script?

Practical applications of atomic research include the development of photovoltaic cells, advanced materials like carbon nanotubes, medical treatments using radioisotopes, and the potential for nuclear fusion as a clean energy source.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 The Fundamental Role of Atoms in Science

The paragraph introduces the pervasive influence of atomic theory across various scientific disciplines, emphasizing that all material substances, from natural elements to human-made creations, are composed of atoms. It discusses the minuscule size of atoms, their motion, and the complexity of their structure. The paragraph also touches on the significance of atomic theory in understanding chemical changes and phenomena such as radiation and nuclear reactions. The periodic table is highlighted as a fundamental tool in chemistry, representing the atomic composition of all known elements.

05:01

🌐 Atoms and the Universe: From Nature to Lab

This paragraph delves into the concept that all elements, whether found in nature or synthesized in laboratories, are made of the same fundamental particles. It explains that the arrangement of atoms in molecules is consistent, regardless of their source, and that our understanding of atomic and molecular structures has led to precise predictions of chemical behavior. The paragraph further explores the versatility of carbon, its ability to form various substances, and its role in life through DNA. It also discusses the interconnectivity of chemistry, electronics, and physics, and how advancements in atomic theory have spurred technological innovations, including photovoltaic cells and the development of nanotechnology.

10:02

🔍 Nanotechnology and the Manipulation of Atoms

The focus of this paragraph is on the advancements in nanotechnology, where scientists are able to manipulate atoms at the atomic level. It describes how researchers have demonstrated control over individual atoms to create structures and new molecules like buckminster fullerene. The potential applications of nanocomputers in medicine and other fields are discussed, highlighting their ability to perform specialized tasks at the molecular level. The paragraph also touches on the exploration of the atomic nucleus, the quest to understand its composition, and the use of powerful tools like particle accelerators to study these fundamental particles.

15:03

🌌 The Mysteries of the Universe and the Atom

This paragraph discusses the broader implications of atomic research on our understanding of the universe. It raises questions about the missing mass in the universe and introduces the neutrino, a particle with energy but no mass, as a potential solution to this puzzle. The paragraph also covers the practical applications of atomic research, such as nuclear energy for electricity production and medical treatments, and the use of radioisotopes in various scientific fields. It emphasizes the potential of fusion reactions as a clean energy source and the ongoing research into the fundamental particles that make up our universe.

20:03

🚀 From Stardust to the Edges of the Universe

The final paragraph reflects on the journey from the exploration of atomic particles to the study of the universe's origins. It discusses the role of stars in creating elements through nuclear fusion and the scattering of these elements throughout space, which led to the formation of our planet and life. The paragraph also mentions the use of advanced scientific instruments to study the universe's early stages and the potential discoveries that lie ahead as we continue to probe the mysteries of the atom and the cosmos. It concludes with a poetic note on humanity's connection to the stars, as we are all made of stardust.

Keywords

💡Atom

An atom is the basic unit of matter, consisting of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. In the video, atoms are described as the fundamental building blocks of all material things on Earth, from trees and stones to humans. The script emphasizes that all things are made of atoms, highlighting their pervasive role in the universe and their centrality to the theme of the video.

💡Molecules

Molecules are groups of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound that can take part in a chemical reaction. The video explains that atoms combine to form molecules, which are in constant motion, and this motion is associated with heat. An example given is the balmy air of a summer day, composed of rapidly moving and colliding molecules.

💡Electrons

Electrons are subatomic particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom and possess a negative electric charge. In the video, electrons are depicted as having a crucial role in the structure of atoms and are responsible for the chemical properties of elements. The video also touches on how electrons' movements and interactions with other atoms' electrons lead to chemical changes.

💡Nucleus

The nucleus is the central part of an atom, containing protons and neutrons, and is where the majority of an atom's mass is concentrated. The video script describes the nucleus as incredibly small and dense, with electrons surrounding it. It also mentions that the nucleus has a positive electrical charge, contrasting with the negative charge of electrons.

💡Periodic Table

The Periodic Table is a tabular arrangement of chemical elements, organized by atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties. The video uses the Periodic Table as a visual aid to explain the organization of elements based on their atomic structure, emphasizing its importance in chemistry and the understanding of material composition.

💡Chemical Bonds

Chemical bonds are the forces that hold atoms together in molecules or crystals. The video script explains that the differences between one kind of atom and another are due to the number and arrangement of electrons, which in turn affect how atoms form bonds with each other. This concept is central to understanding chemical reactions and the formation of compounds.

💡Radiation

Radiation refers to the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles. In the video, radiation is discussed in the context of changes in the movements of an atom's electrons, which can produce various forms of radiation, including visible light and electricity. The script also touches on the applications of radiation in nuclear power and medical therapies.

💡Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. The video script highlights advancements in nanotechnology, such as the ability to control individual atoms and the creation of new molecules like buckminster fullerene. It suggests potential applications in medicine and computing, illustrating the growing interconnectivity between atomic theory and technology.

💡Quarks

Quarks are elementary particles and a fundamental constituent of matter. The video script delves into the subatomic world, explaining that protons and neutrons are made up of quarks. This concept challenges the traditional view of the atom and introduces a deeper level of understanding of matter's composition, which is crucial for exploring the frontiers of particle physics.

💡Neutrino

A neutrino is a subatomic particle with very little mass and no electric charge, which travels at nearly the speed of light. The video discusses the discovery of the neutrino and its role in certain nuclear reactions, where it helps to conserve energy. The script also mentions the potential of neutrinos to account for some of the 'missing mass' in the universe, linking this particle to cosmological mysteries.

Highlights

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of all material things on Earth.

Atoms are incredibly small, with 50 billion atoms of gold in a single drop of seawater.

Atoms and molecules are in constant motion, which is experienced as heat.

At the coldest temperatures, atoms still exhibit quantum vibrations.

Atoms have a complex inner structure, unlike the simple billiard ball model.

The atom's nucleus is incredibly dense and carries a positive charge, surrounded by electrons.

Chemical changes are due to electron rearrangements and bonding between atoms.

Radiation, including visible light and electricity, is produced by changes in electron movements.

Nuclear changes, from power plants to radiation therapy, involve the atomic nucleus.

Chemistry is based on atomic theory, with the periodic table as a fundamental tool.

All elements are made of the same basic particles, such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Carbon's ability to form various bonds leads to a vast array of substances, including life's DNA.

Modern electronics is deeply connected to atomic theory, with the electron playing a central role.

Nanotechnology allows scientists to manipulate atoms and molecules at the atomic scale.

Research into the atom's nucleus reveals that protons and neutrons are made of quarks.

The universe may be composed of only two basic particles: quarks and electrons.

The discovery of neutrinos, particles with energy but no mass, could explain the universe's missing mass.

Nuclear energy has practical applications in medicine, environmental science, and genetics.

Future research on atomic particles promises to unlock new forms of energy and knowledge.

We are all made of stardust, as all atoms on Earth originated from ancient supernovae.

Transcripts

hmm

few concepts in modern science have had

as wide and as deep an

impact as that of the atom physics

chemistry biology

geology meteorology medicine ecology

even psychology and anthropology count

knowledge of the atom as basic data

part of the bedrock foundation upon

which their science is built

here is what we know today 1.

all things on earth are made of atoms

all material things that is

trees and stones birds and lakes frogs

and people

all things no exceptions

two atoms are very small so small

that in a single drop of seawater there

are 50 billion

atoms of gold yet you would have to

distill

2 000 tons of sea water to get enough

gold to see with the naked eye

three atoms or combinations of atoms

called molecules

are continually in motion and that

motion is what we call

heat atoms that make up the balmy air of

a summer day for instance

are traveling at speeds three times

greater than that of a bullet leaving

the muzzle of a rifle

and they collide with their neighboring

atoms and molecules over 5000 million

times a second

only as you approach the coldest

possible temperature in the universe

273 degrees below zero centigrade

do the atoms quiet down and come to rest

even then they quiver inside

because four atoms small as they are

have an inner structure as intricate and

finely tuned as the most elegant watch

an atom is not a little billiard ball

nor is it a miniature solar system as

formerly thought

it does have an incredibly small

incredibly dense nucleus

which is surrounded by clouds of

electrons

to give you some idea of proportion if

we were to enlarge

the tiny atom up to the size of yankee

stadium

the dense nucleus would be like a

mosquito on second base

the atom's nucleus has positive

electrical charges

while the electrons around it have

negative electrical charges

the differences between one kind of atom

and another are due to differences

in the number and the arrangement of

these electrical charges

five all the ordinary and extraordinary

chemical changes in our world from

burning wood to digesting food

from making steel to thinking thoughts

are due to changes in the orbiting

electrons

as bonds are made and broken between one

atom and another

six other kinds of changes in the

movements of the atom's electrons

produce radiation including visible

light

and electricity

seven all the ordinary and extraordinary

nuclear changes in our world

from atomic power plants to cancer

radiation therapy

from atomic explosions to solar energy

are due to

arrangements and rearrangements of the

dense atomic nucleus

now that's a summary now let's see how

these well established facts

help us understand the world

start with chemistry practically all

chemical knowledge today

has in its bedrock foundation atomic

theory

the chart behind me is a periodic table

of the elements which you will find in

all chemistry classrooms and chemical

laboratories

why because it's the master chart of all

that exists

in the material universe it starts in

the upper left-hand corner with the

simplest of atoms hydrogen

element number one hydrogen has just one

unit of positive charge in its nucleus

next comes helium with two charges

followed by lithium with three

beryllium with four and we keep adding

one charge

each time right on through the entire

100 plus

elements on the chart there are no gaps

nowadays

everything is made of some combination

of the 100 plus kinds of elements on

this remarkable

chart think what an extraordinary

simplification this is

the universe itself in just over 100

flavors

actually only about 90 of these flavors

have been found in nature

the rest have been created in our modern

chemical laboratories

but wait what does artificial mean

mendelevium for instance has not yet

been found

in nature outside the laboratory but the

101 protons

155 neutrons and 101 electrons

that make up mendelevium are no

different from the

protons neutrons and electrons that make

up the other elements

all elements in other words are made of

the same parts

so if mendelevium is ever found in

nature outside the laboratory

we're quite sure it will be identical to

the mendeleevium we have made in our

laboratory

so too with other chemical substances

sugar for instance

it's always made of exactly the same

number and kind of atoms

for sucrose the kind of sugar that you

have on your table

it's always made of 12 atoms of carbon

22 atoms of hydrogen and 11 atoms of

oxygen

stuck together exactly in the angles and

geometry shown here

many green leaves know how to make this

kind of arrangement of atoms

snapdragon leaves corn leaves maple

leaves

beans all sprouts we can also make this

same arrangement of atoms in the

laboratory artificially

and there would be absolutely no

difference between the natural and the

artificial

why should there be we use the same

atoms in making sugar

that the corn leaf does and for that

matter

our laboratories are as natural that is

made of the same elemental atoms

as the corn leaf more detailed and

sophisticated knowledge of the electron

shells surrounding each atom has led to

more detailed and sophisticated

predictions of how atoms will bond to

one another

we know for instance not only that water

is made of molecules of h2o

but we know the angle at which the two

hydrogen atoms are attached to the one

oxygen atom now knowing this angle

enables us to predict

correctly what water will do in an

almost infinite variety of physical and

chemical reactions

with other atoms and molecules

so too with the most interesting of all

atoms carbon

carbon has six protons and six electrons

these electrons are positioned in their

clouds

such that a single carbon atom is able

to make up to four

separate bonds with other atoms

if it bonds with other carbon atoms in

one way

it makes super slippery graphite that's

the lead in your lead pencil

if it bonds another way it can make the

hardest substance in the world

a diamond and scientist at general

electric

figured out how to make the bonds change

that is how to make graphite into a

diamond

but for carbon this is only the

beginning carbon can hook up with itself

in short or long chains

can branch can turn into circles can add

other atoms to the corners and make an

almost unlimited number of substances

from sugar to gasoline from plastics

to vitamins from glue to hemoglobin

carbon can also make this the crowning

achievement of life

dna deoxyribonucleic acid

a double helix molecule of thousands of

atoms strung along carbon linked struts

that contains on its spiraling structure

the information needed

to produce and to control living things

well if modern chemistry is built on the

bedrock of atomic theory

so too is modern electronics in fact

chemistry

electronics and physics are all becoming

more and more interconnected

as our web of atomic theory becomes ever

more powerful

when the electron was first discovered

in j.j thompson's cavendish laboratory

at the turn of the century someone

raised a toast

to the useless electron long may it be

so

if only they could visit a modern

electronics store

it is true that the telegraph the

telephone radio and the phonograph

were all invented before we knew there

was such a thing as an electron

but now that we know more basic science

progress and invention have

multiplied a hundred fold research on

the behavior of atomic electrons in the

presence of light for instance

has led to modern photovoltaic cells

like the ones in this

solar calculator that are able to

transform

light into electricity with no movable

parts

the same direction of research has led

to new glass fibers

that are able to replace huge copper

cables and carry messages around the

world and the wings of light

and indeed to the miracle silicon chips

the heart and soul of the modern

computer

very recently in the late 20th and early

21st century

scientists have made spectacular

progress

in what is called the science of

nanotechnology

nano means very small technology that is

at the atom

size level this scientist at ibm for

instance

has already shown how it is possible to

control a

single atom moving the atom at the will

of the human being

to form structures one atom at a time

the scientist at the university of

arizona has found a way to build a new

molecule of carbon

called buckminster fullerene buckyballs

for short

and other scientists have been able to

make nanotubes of

carbon the most important of the basic

life forms

just as the molecule dna can direct the

activities of a cell

including the reproduction of that cell

so scientists are now trying to design

molecules often with the life-centered

carbon at their core

that can count and even reproduce

themselves

making for the possibility of nano

computers these amazing computers would

be

microscopic in size able for instance

to flow through the bloodstream of a

person and do special

jobs inside jobs like finding and

destroying

malignant cancer cells are jobs like

finding and fixing defective kidneys or

hearts or lungs or spines

jobs like growing new limbs or ears or

fingers

these nano computers will be able to do

these specialized jobs

because they can be programmed with the

codes needed to work

on this basic atomic molecular level

similar in a way to the way nature has

coated living structures

for over 4 billion years

well the electron part of the atom is

glamorous and popular

the nucleus however is haunted by fear

and suspicion

yet now and then glowing with promise of

a new world

and not only a new world of unlimited

energy

but a world of boundless knowledge and

humbling wisdom

indeed a way to explain creation itself

let's look at some of the progress

already happening in the early

21st century in order to study the

nucleus of an atom

that's 10 million times smaller than the

atom as a whole

in order to intelligently search for

these elusive quarks and antiquarks

humans have to use very powerful tools

one of the most powerful is the circular

mile long accelerator

here at fermilab in batavia illinois

now the forces we are dealing with in

the atom's tiny nucleus

are strong so strong that fermilab's

giant atom smasher

needs more electrical power than a city

of 300 000 people

to break and then see what happens

only a few years ago we thought the

nucleus was made up of protons and

neutrons

held together by some kind of cosmic

glue

in trying to figure out more about that

glue we have run into more mysteries

the most accepted current idea is that

protons and neutrons are themselves made

of still smaller

simpler particles called quarks

and these quarks come in at least four

flavors as well as having

opposite antiquark shadows

well you remember at the beginning of

this program we said all things on earth

and in the universe are made of atoms

all material things that is and atoms we

found out are made of protons neutrons

and electrons

but recent research at places like

fermilab has shown that protons and

neutrons

are themselves made of quarks

which leads to the view that there

really seem to be only two basic

kinds of particles in the universe

quarks

and electrons well

yes and no more puzzles

puzzle number one cosmologist that is

physicists who work on the largest

possible canvas the universe

have been able to estimate how much

matter there is in all the stars in all

of space

in fact in all of the universe that is

how many quarks and electrons

and the problem is that their best

estimate comes up

way short of what is needed to keep the

universe from flying apart

in fact roughly 90 of the mass needed

is missing well what accounts for this

missing

mass where is it what is it

now puzzle number two physicists who

study the sub-microscopic

atom have found that in certain

radiation changes

a neutron spits out an electron when it

turns into a proton

but more energy goes into this exchange

than comes out

and this violates one of the most

fundamental of all

physical laws the law of conservation of

energy

the only solution seems to be to invent

another basic particle

so to solve this puzzle physicists did

invent a particle that had

energy but no mass enrico fermi called

this strange particle

a neutrino italian for the neutral one

well in 1956 the neutrino was indeed

discovered

coming out of a nuclear reactor and

strange as it was

they did seem to be particles with

energy

but no mass more experiments in the last

half of the 20th century

have confirmed the existence of the

strange particle

neutrinos stream out of the sun in

incredible numbers

and they pass right through us indeed

they pass

right through the entire solid planet

earth

very very rarely disturbing or running

into anything

huge underground water tanks have been

built in many places around the world

and under the ocean in the past few

decades

to try to detect and to study these

neutrinos

and in one underground water tank here

in japan

new data in 1998 brought a surprise

neutrinos do have a mass after all

a very small one about 1 500

000 the mass of an electron it's very

small yes but if confirmed

this may help solve the puzzle at the

other end of the scale

that is the missing mass of the universe

doing a little arithmetic cosmologists

figured that since space has about 300

neutrinos in every teaspoonful

we may have found at least some of the

missing mass of the universe

on this view it seems that empty space

is not really empty it's a veritable sea

of neutrinos

with a few quarks and electrons floating

around to make up the stars and the

planets

and people as you can see the future of

atomic research for the next decades is

unpredictable

despite the uncertainties however

knowledge of basic particles

does pay off

we do know how to control some of these

strong nuclear forces

in nuclear chain reactions to explode in

bombs of course

but also to create electricity

all current nuclear power is produced by

fission

that is by the splitting apart of heavy

nuclei

like uranium and plutonium unfortunately

these

fission reactions lead to serious

radioactive waste

problems in many sites around the world

scientists are right now learning how to

control nuclear forces

to produce energy from fusion reactions

that is from fusing light nuclei like

hydrogen and helium

once they solve the puzzles here there

will be a welcome new energy source

to safely replace fossil fuels

a very powerful source indeed that will

not contribute to global warming

or to air or water pollution and one

that could be used

to produce the hydrogen economy than

many think is the future of

transportation

in this 21st century many people do not

know the many other human uses of

nuclear energy either

cancer for instance is being treated

with growing success

by the use of what are called

radioisotopes

radioisotopes are varieties of certain

atoms

whose nuclei spontaneously break apart

in that nuclear decay the atoms spit out

energetic particles

that can seek out and destroy

fast-growing cancer

cells or here's another use

ecologists use tiny amounts of a

radioactive isotope

as a way of tracing the flow of

chemicals through the environment

as a way of collecting basic data needed

to understand

and control pollution and in modern

genetics laboratories

radioactive atoms are used as signposts

to lead the way into the mysteries of

the gene

that is into the mysteries of life

itself

none of these uses nor a hundred

thousand others

were foreseen by the lonely

investigators who first probe the

secrets of the atom

it's always that way but practical

results

some people call them spin-offs always

seem to happen

when basic scientific research is

successful

right now the research on the atom is

proceeding

rapidly at each extreme of size

the very small and the very large

at places like fermilab giant

accelerators are probing the very small

and out in space nasa satellites are

probing the very large

for instance we know that deep within

stars like our sun

there is a nuclear furnace and forge

we know that in that furnace protons

electrons quarks

mesons and all the improbable particles

and fragments of particles

we are just beginning now to discover

are fused

into the elements that make up our earth

when stars explode with power beyond

anything we can imagine on earth

they scatter these atoms throughout

space

and on some fortunate place like our own

planet

a local combination of these stardust

atoms

leads to interesting new possibilities

right now in places like here at fermi

lab scientists and engineers have

created machines

powerful enough to imitate these stellar

forces and using new

satellites like nasa's microwave probe

wmap astronomers and cosmologists have

been able to see and to make a map of

what the universe was like

just a few thousand years after the most

energetic happening of all time

the big bang the very beginning of the

universe itself

as we get closer and closer to that

beginning by satellite

and by accelerator as we speak atoms to

energies like those at the center of

stars

as we learn how quarks and leptons and

neutrinos

and still other dark matter combined to

make our universe

what will we find

no one knows will it be useless

moonshine well we do know

that atoms make up all that exists

including you and me

since all atoms on earth came from the

explosion

at the center of some long ago star

this means we

are made of stardust

and even more surprising

we know it

so

you