Which of the following statements about electrons is not true?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Let's begin by noting the question and the provided options. The prompt asks: Which of the following statements about electrons is not true?

However, the list of answer options appears absent in the data provided, leaving us with only one item labeled as the 'answer': "Electrons orbit the nucleus rather like planets orbiting the Sun."

Option analysis (given the single statement presented):
- The statement "Electrons orbit the nucleus rather like planets orbiting the Sun" is a classic misconception. In modern atomic theory, electrons do not follow fixed, planet-like orbits around the nucleus. Instead, electrons exist in quantum states described by orbitals, which are regions of probability where an electron is likely to be found. This probabilistic, cloud-like description replaces the idea of precise, circular orbits with a statistical distribution governed by the Schrödinger equation.

Why this misconception persists: historically, the Bohr model introduced the notion of quantized circular orbits for hydrogen-like atoms, which can resemble planetary orbits in a simplified sense. Yet that model is an approximation and does not accurately describe multi-electron atoms or the full range of atomic behavior. The modern view, rooted in quantum mechanics, emphasizes wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle, which together preclude definite paths.

Key concepts to contrast with the statement:
- Orbit vs. orbital: Planets have well-defined trajectories; electrons in atoms occupy orbitals with specific shapes and energy levels, described by probability densities.
- Uncertainty principle: Precisely determining both position and momentum of an electron is impossible, which undermines the idea of a fixed orbit.
- Electron localization: The electron's exact position is not fixed until measurement, and even then the result is probabilistic, not a deterministic path.

Potential issues with the statement in different contexts:
- In a strictly hydrogenic Bohr model context, one could describe electrons as having specific orbits for certain energy levels, but this is a simplified and outdated picture and does not generalize to more complex atoms.
- The planet-like analogy can be helpful pedagogically at a very rough introductory level, but it becomes inaccurate as students learn about orbital shapes, electron correlation, and quantum numbers.

Given the standard scientific understanding, the assertion that electrons orbit the nucleus like planets is not true in the comprehensive, modern framework. If the exam included multiple options, this would be the one that contradicts the accepted quantum mechanical description of atomic structure.

In sum, the misconception lies in treating electrons as tiny planets with fixed, deterministic orbits, whereas actual electrons exist in probabilistic orbitals described by quantum mechanics, with no definite path around the nucleus.

COS SPR 25 class 2 Jan 30 Test1 (USE GOOGLE CHROME)

Which of the following statements about electrons is not true?

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