1. ATOMIC STRUCTURE

1

ATOMIC STRUCTURE

CHAPTER 1(37 pages) starts with Democritus and proceeds chronologically through ‘hard’ atom model and ‘soft’ atom model. This chapter ends with Hofstadter and Murry Gell Mann. It is a non-mathematical treatment. The points familiar to the readers such as Pauli exclusion principle are ignored. But the statements of prominent scientists and several comparisons - such as “The atom changes its shape constantly. At one time it looks like an egg which is oval in shape and at another time it looks like an omelette which is flat.” - are given. The readers would love to remember them.

However, the meaning of Planck constant, the similarity between matrix mechanics and wave mechanics, symmetry of the orbitals, physical meaning + and – signs of the wave function and the reason for the stability of the octet configuration are explained in words.

Experiment conducted by Daniel Walls and his colleagues at University of Auckland (1991) to demolish the argument of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) is given. The experiment conducted by David Pritchard from the Massachysetts Institute of Technology to isolate an atom and the experiment of Stephen Chn to trap atom (1986) are given.

Further, there is an elementary treatment of quarks and leptons (7 pages) and the nature of forces. The limitation of the Standard Model also is discussed.

There is no comparison for this chapter in any other book. The readers will be immensely benefitted by this chapter.