Question

Which of the following is true about the state of an individual atom? a. An individual atom should be considered to be a solid. b. An individual atom should be considered to be a liquid. c. An individual atom should be considered to be a gas. d. The state of the atom depends on which element it is. e. An individual atom cannot be considered to be a solid, liquid, or gas. For choices you did not pick, explain what you feel is wrong with them, and justify the choice you did pick.

Short answer

The correct answer is option e. An individual atom cannot be considered to be a solid, liquid, or gas. States of matter are properties of collections of atoms or molecules that interact with each other, and these properties are not applicable to individual atoms.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the states of matter

In general, there are three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Each of these states has its own unique properties. For example, solids are characterized by a fixed shape and volume, liquids have a fixed volume but can change shape, and gases have no fixed shape or volume.

Analyze each option

Let's examine each option and see if they are applicable to the state of an individual atom. a. An individual atom as a solid: A solid has a fixed arrangement of particles in a definite shape. Atoms in a solid are held together by strong molecular bonds. However, considering just one individual atom, it cannot form a definite shape or structure. Therefore, this option is incorrect. b. An individual atom as a liquid: A liquid state involves atoms having a fixed volume, but they can change shape to fit a container. This state implies the presence of multiple atoms that are connected by weaker intermolecular forces than in a solid. When we consider just one individual atom, it cannot have such properties. Therefore, this option is incorrect. c. An individual atom as a gas: Gaseous matter has atoms or molecules that are in constant random motion and have no fixed shape or volume. Although an individual atom exhibits random motion, the idea of a gas implies the presence of multiple particles interacting. Hence, this option is incorrect. d. The state of the atom depends on which element it is: While different elements have different properties, the concept of a state of matter isn't applicable to individual atoms regardless of the element. Thus, this option is incorrect.

Choose the correct option

e. An individual atom cannot be considered to be a solid, liquid, or gas: This statement correctly conveys that states of matter apply to a collection of atoms or molecules, not an individual atom. An individual atom does not possess the properties that characterize any of these states of matter and cannot be classified as a solid, liquid, or gas.

Conclusion

The correct answer is option e. An individual atom cannot be considered to be a solid, liquid, or gas. States of matter are properties of collections of atoms or molecules that interact with each other, and these properties are not applicable to individual atoms.

Key concepts

Understanding the Individual Atom

When we talk about matter in physics and chemistry, we often deal with huge numbers of atoms or molecules. Rarely do we consider the state of an individual atom, but that's exactly what we need to explore to understand the fundamentals of matter. An individual atom is the basic unit of an element, characterized by a nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons. It's essential, however, to grasp that the physical state we observe—be it solid, liquid, or gas—is a result of the collective behavior of many atoms.

Unlike collections of atoms that make up matter in different states, which have specific properties, an individual atom doesn't have the attributes like shape or volume that characterize a solid, a liquid, or a gas. At such a tinyscale, the concept of state is meaningless because it has none of the interactions that define those states.

Solid, Liquid, and Gas States

The 'states of matter' most people are familiar with are solid, liquid, and gas. Each state has unique properties determined by the atoms' behavior and their interaction with each other. Solids have a definite shape and volume because their atoms are tightly packed in a regular pattern and can only vibrate about fixed positions. Liquids, on the other hand, have a fixed volume, but they can flow and change shape because their atoms or molecules are close together but not in fixed positions. Gases are even more free-flowing, with atoms or molecules far apart and moving at high speeds in all directions, which means they don't have a fixed shape or volume.

Each of these states is a macroscopic property of matter, meaning they result from macroscopic quantities of atoms and cannot be applied to an individual atom as atoms themselves do not have volume or shape independently.

Examining the Properties of Matter

Properties of matter such as density, hardness, melting point, and boiling point describe how a substance behaves under different conditions and with how atoms within the matter bond and interact. For instance, temperature can affect a substance's state, with heat causing atoms and molecules to move more vigorously, potentially changing solid into liquid (melting), or liquid into gas (evaporation). Pressure, too, plays a crucial role as increasing pressure can compress molecules closer together, leading to condensation (gas to liquid) or even solidification (liquid to solid).

These properties stem from macroscopic interactions and do not hold meaning when considering an individual atom with no other atoms to interact with. In essence, the extensive array of matter's properties emerges from complex interactions within a system of many atoms, whereas an individual atom represents merely the basic building block without such properties exhibited.