Chapter 15, Problem 14TE

To determine

Whether it is possible to see an individual atom by using scanning probe microscope.

Answer to Problem 14TE

It is not possible to see the individual shells of an atom by using the scanning probe microscope because the size of the shells and nucleus of the atom is very small the size that can be seen by using the scanning probe microscope.

Explanation of Solution

The scanning probe microscope is the device used to analyze the surface at the atomic level. In this microscope, the single atom can be analyzed at a time. The atoms up to nano size can be seen by the scanning probe microscope.

The size of the nucleus and shells are very small than the size of the atom, so it is not possible to see the individual shells of an atom by using the scanning probe microscope.

The probe of the scanning probe microscope is made of the piezoelectric charged wire. The distance of the probe with the surface is very small. The resolution image of surface forms by the information about the decay of current reached to surface from the wire.

Conclusion:

Therefore, it is not possible to see the individual shells of an atom by using the scanning probe microscope because the size of the shells and nucleus of the atom is very small the size that can be seen by using the scanning probe microscope.