Word: proton
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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Practically all the chemists who witnessed the experiment believed that Dr. Bonhoeffer had split the hydrogen atom. Newspapers so reported the event. That was ridiculous. The hydrogen atom, simplest of the 92 elements, has a single proton at its centre and a single electron swinging around that centre. The two may be particles or they may be waves. (The experiment tended to prove that they were waves.) But they are indivisible. To break them up would wipe them out of existence. However, the hydrogen molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms. Chemists and physicists have believed that both electrons revolve...
...beta rays (electrons, negatively charged particles) rat-tat-tat-ing against the atoms of elements might conceivably change those elements into new and precious forms. Mercury might yet become gold, as alchemists dreamed. Theoretically the procedure is simple. An atom of mercury contains at its centre, 198 protons (positively charged particles) and 118 electrons. Around that nucleus swirl 80 more electrons. These complete the mercury balance of 198 electrons against 198 protons. An atom of gold contains 197 protons and 118 electrons in its nucleus and 79 more electrons shooting around them. If it becomes possible for the beta particles...
Hydrogen atoms, tiny little things composed of one positive particle of electricity (the proton) and one madly whirling negative particle (the electron), which goes round and round its fellow just as the earth circles the sun, have been occupying the attention of physicists and chemists at Princeton University...
...likened the atom to the solar system, with the positive nucleus or proton representing the sun, and the electrons revolving in two concentric rings, at maximum distance from each other. This " open " structure is the most significant feature of the scheme...