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Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure

All matter is composed of atoms, the smallest individual units of elements. Each atom is made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Together, these three particles account for the mass and the charge of an atom.The History of Atomic TheoryThe first person to propose that everything on Earth is made up of tiny particles was the Greek philosopher Democritus, around 450 B.C. He used the term atomos, Greek for “indivisible,” from which the modern term “atom” is derived.

Nuclear Stability

Nuclear Stability

Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together in the...

Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure

The Greek philosopher Democritus proposed that everything on Earth is made up of tiny particles called atomos, Greek for "indivisible," from which the modern term "atom" is derived. In the 19th century, John Dalton proposed the atomic theory that is still largely correct today. He put forth five postulates to explain how atoms made up the world around us. (1) All matter is composed of infinitely small particles or atoms. (2) All atoms of a given element are identical to one another and (3) are...

Development of Analytical Methods

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An analytical methodology can be divided into four sequential steps: technique, method, procedure, and protocol. A technique is a scientific principle that rationalizes a specific phenomenon through chemical measurements. Adapting a technique for analyzing a sample of interest is termed a method. The procedure outlines the directions for performing the analysis via an analytical method. The protocol is the detailed guidelines on the procedure, which should be strictly followed to obtain the...

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Overview

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Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) is a technique used to analyze elements by measuring electromagnetic radiation (EMR) absorbed by atoms, which causes them to transition to a higher-energy orbit. The most crucial step in AAS is atomization, where the analyte is converted into gas-phase atoms, typically through a flame or furnace. Some of these atoms become thermally excited in the flame, while most remain in the ground state.
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Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Instrumentation

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Related Experiment Video

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Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA

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Published on: April 26, 2013

Development of NIST Atomic Databases and Online Tools.

Yuri Ralchenko¹, Alexander Kramida¹

¹National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.

Atoms

|November 18, 2021

Summary

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers high-quality atomic data and modeling tools for plasma research. Recent developments and future plans for these atomic databases are presented.

Keywords:

atomic databases atomic spectroscopy bibliographic databases collisional-radiative modeling laser-induced background spectroscopy (LIBS)standard reference databases

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Area of Science:

Atomic Physics
Plasma Science
Computational Physics

Background:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed atomic reference databases and online tools over 25 years.
These resources provide critical atomic parameters like level energies, transition wavelengths, and oscillator strengths.
NIST tools enable fast and reliable collisional-radiative modeling for various plasma types.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of recent advancements in NIST's numerical and bibliographic atomic databases.
To outline the future prospects and developmental vision for these essential scientific resources.

Main Methods:

Review of recent updates and enhancements to NIST's atomic databases.
Analysis of current capabilities for plasma modeling.
Strategic planning for future database evolution and online tool development.

Main Results:

NIST databases continue to offer high-quality atomic data essential for scientific research.
Online tools facilitate efficient and accurate collisional-radiative modeling.
Significant progress has been made in updating and expanding the available atomic data and functionalities.

Conclusions:

NIST's atomic databases and modeling tools remain vital resources for the global scientific community.
Ongoing development ensures these resources will continue to support cutting-edge research in atomic physics and plasma science.
The future vision focuses on enhanced data accessibility, improved modeling capabilities, and broader application support.